[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou":3,"chapter-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-34":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ink Saint of Great Zhou",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2291997,4481,"Chapter 34: Defending a Patch of Peace","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-34",34,"\u003Cp>In the northern frontier of the Zhou dynasty, the sky was pale red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was because, over the past few decades, the Barbarian Kingdom had gained vast fortune from the Lesser Upper Realm; the increase in Barbarian fortune meant an increase in the Barbarian Kingdom’s fortune, thus expanding the “Barbarian Miasma” of Barbarian Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the “Barbarian Miasma” zone, humans were suppressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even doing nothing, one felt exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also why the Zhenbei Army had retreated a hundred kilometers to avoid battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To safely evacuate border civilians, the Zhenbei Army fought while retreating, primarily to slow the Barbarians’ advance and give logistics and civilians ample time to withdraw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the foot of the barren hills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ten-man Zhenbei Army reconnaissance squad rested briefly on a reverse slope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their mission this time was to prevent Barbarian scouts from probing behind their lines, for ten li behind them, a thousand border civilians were evacuating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Afraid of death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bearded squad leader teased the new recruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Squad Leader, I’m not afraid of death—I’m afraid I’ll die without killing enough Barbarian soldiers!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new soldier grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This new soldier was named Guan Heng, just nineteen, a native of the border who had joined the military after reading “Dream of the Red Chamber,” which had imbued him with literary aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had not cultivated the righteous qi of Confucianism, nor did he possess primordial qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to lifelong martial training, his physique was sturdier than ordinary men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhou dynasty’s “martial arts” were pure, focused mainly on refining the body, with only nine ranks to first rank—limited in achievement, yet sufficient for a soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among eighth-rank martial artists, Guan Heng’s stamina and speed were excellent, and with the added boost of literary aura, he was assigned to this elite reconnaissance squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good lad!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squad leader gave him an approving look and laughed: “Just now I heard Er Gou say you went to Tai Xu Mountain yesterday and saw the latest ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms.’ Since we’ve got time, tell us about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Zhou Son of Heaven had ordered the Zhenbei Army to read Lu Fang’s refined prose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there were too many soldiers on the northern frontier—how could each get a copy? They were passed down layer by layer after being read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many hadn’t read the latest editions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Tai Xu Mountain, this wasn’t a problem—on the first level, people everywhere were either writing or reading “Dream of the Red Chamber” and “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the others couldn’t help gathering closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name of Marquis Wen Guan Lu Fang was well known in the Zhenbei Army, especially among those who cultivated only martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, one could only painfully refine the body to gain strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With literary aura, there was now another way to enhance the physique—how could they not rejoice? Besides, the refined prose of “Dream of the Red Chamber” was truly masterful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, just listen with your ears! Why are you crowding over? Go, go, keep watch on all sides!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squad leader scolded with a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Heng scratched his head and grinned sheepishly: “Squad Leader, I’m just a rough fellow. I did read some ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ at Tai Xu Mountain yesterday, but I don’t remember much—I’ll try to explain as clearly as I can…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Guan Heng vividly recounted the part he remembered best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was about Guan Gong beheading Hua Xiong while his wine remained warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...First feat in all the land, war drums sound loud in the camp’s gate, Guan Yu pauses his cup, displays his might—wine still warm when Hua Xiong falls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Heng drew a dagger from his waist and mimicked a chopping motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they shared the surname Guan, he had a special fondness for Guan Yun Chang in “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” especially when reading this passage—it stirred his blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well said! Keep going!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squad leader urged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bad news, Squad Leader! A Barbarian scout unit of about fifteen has been spotted three kilometers ahead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forward scout rushed back to report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too close to retreat—Guan Heng, you’re fast, go warn the rear about the Barbarian scouts. The rest of you, take cover on all sides, hold them off until reinforcements arrive to annihilate them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squad leader ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, the men split into two teams, taking cover on both sides of the road, waiting for the Barbarian scouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew this would likely be fatal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the Barbarian Miasma zone, outnumbered and without reinforcements, the scout squad might be completely wiped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was no choice!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they didn’t fight and let these Barbarian scouts escape, they might summon the full force of the Barbarian army to charge forward—then the civilian evacuation behind them could be destroyed, even massacred!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had to delay until reinforcements arrived, so they could annihilate the Barbarian scouts; unaware of the front’s true strength, the Barbarian army would dare not advance recklessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at the cost of their lives, they would not hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell Er Gou to go back—I’m staying here, nowhere else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Heng defied military orders for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll settle accounts when we get back—Er Gou, go report,” the squad leader glared fiercely at Guan Heng and cursed: “You damn fool, you think sharing a surname with Guan Yun Chang makes you a great hero?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the road ahead, a Barbarian scout unit marched boldly toward them, certain that by now the Zhenbei Army had long since withdrawn from the “Barbarian God” zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike humans, Barbarians had protruding fangs and brown skin—these two traits were standard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other features varied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had six arms, three eyes, one ear…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barbarians primarily relied on Barbarian Miasma energy; some were born with bronze skin and iron bones, further refined by Barbarian Miasma breath, making their physiques as strong as demonic beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tiny fraction of Barbarians could even communicate with Barbarian Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having lived long in the “Barbarian Miasma” environment, Barbarians were extremely brutal—even toward their own kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one-eared Barbarian leader shouted in Barbarian tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing they were discovered, the Zhenbei scout squad leader chose to strike first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, both sides plunged into a brutal battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first clash ended with both sides breaking apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two Barbarians wounded!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Zhenbei soldier dead, four wounded!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were already outnumbered—who could have expected this barbarian scout unit consisted entirely of eighth-rank barbarian soldiers with the “bronze skin, iron bones” talent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one-eared Barbarian squad leader sneered, speaking in human tongue:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drop your weapons, surrender, and cease resistance. In the ‘Barbarian God’ zone, you weak humans stand no chance against our elite troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pah! ‘Barbarian God’ zone? It’s the Barbarian Miasma!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squad leader touched the deep gash on his cheek—bone visible—his opponent, who had slashed him, had lost an arm; he’d gotten the better of him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhenbei scout squad were pure martial artists, because martial artists were least affected by the Barbarian Miasma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Barbarians had no Barbarian shamans either, for those who could commune with Barbarian Heaven were too precious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In physical strength alone, the Zhenbei scout squad held no advantage—let alone within the Barbarian Miasma zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brothers! The Zhenbei Army of our Zhou dynasty takes pride in dying on the battlefield! Today, let these Barbarians see the blood and spirit of our sons—for the peace of our border civilians!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squad leader growled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Defend one patch of peace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Defend one patch of peace…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhenbei soldiers shouted in unison!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the men fell silent, the squad leader pointed at the lead Barbarian and snarled: “I’ll take that one-eared bastard—I’ll bite off his ear even if I die, and eat it as pickled pig’s ear!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill them all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one-eared Barbarian snarled and waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two sides’ strength was not on the same level—this would be a massacre.\u003C\u002Fp>",1311,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6ae145ac211e647f2f0a332f75d88c8920922cc20249b13b4381ab9652d0a476","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-35","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-33",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]