Chapter 218: Arrival in the Eighteen States of Jiangnan

The scorching summer had passed, and autumn's slight chill arrived; near Jiangzhou City and Yicheng, tall trees slowly turned their leaves yellow, then let them fall in the autumn rain, landing on the ground where the rain struck them with crisp, pīpā pīpā sounds.

News from Changfeng Tower traveled here on the autumn wind.

Although Changfeng Tower was Li Guanyi's intelligence network, safely delivering this letter back across the complex power landscape of Chen State took time; during her rest after training, Xue Shuangtao read Li Guanyi's letter.

She looked at the drawing tucked inside the letter—simple ink strokes, yet vividly depicting rivers, waterfalls, and faint figures—and smiled, pulling out from the envelope a feather from a golden eagle.

This eagle feather differed from those of the flying eagles kept by noble youths.

It was not smooth and straight like theirs; noble eagles' feathers had an oily sheen that shimmered under light.

The feather sent with the letter was hard, rigid, and felt abrasive to the touch—a beast that battled through mountain forests, soared the skies, fought wild beasts, and danced in thunderstorms.

Then she turned to read the content of Li Guanyi's letter.

She saw the names: Lei Laomeng, Nangong Wumeng, Fan Qing, Ling Pingyang—and the casually mentioned yet profoundly turbulent experiences—and a faint smile appeared on her face.

Outside the window, the autumn rain was cold.

Xue Shuangtao ground ink and wrote a reply.

"Guanyi, I hope this letter finds you well. The Xue family remains unchanged; Lady Chen Qingyan teaches me Wu Gong and swordcraft, an ancient lineage from Kunlun Mountain, as if the Kunlun Sword Sect only rose to prominence after receiving this transmission."

"Your experiences must be far more thrilling than those in Yicheng."

"In the months since you left, nothing has changed—day after day slipped by unnoticed. Changqing has trained with great diligence lately, as if he suddenly became a different child."

"He now trains with the battle spear and archery."

"Your friends, Ye Buyi and Zhou Liu Camp, come to visit Changqing; their Wu Gong is already exceptional among young officers, and they occasionally guide him in his training."

"My aunt's child is about to be born. Grandfather has not returned for some time. The court is as stagnant as stagnant water; since Chancellor Dantai Xianming's death, Your Majesty's behavior has grown increasingly tyrannical."

"Grandfather said that in the past, every imperial decree was personally refined by Dantai Xianming."

"Like spring rain falling gently upon the earth, it seemed natural—yet Your Majesty now believes all credit is his own. Grandfather says Emperor Chen Dingye was once a youth full of ambition, with talent surpassing ordinary men, but day after day, Dantai Xianming extinguished his heroic spirit."

"I don't know what heroic spirit is—perhaps it's the kind of vigor you once had."

"Best wishes."

"Please, take care of yourself."

The girl fell silent for a long while, folded the letter, and handed it to Changfeng Tower's guest minister. A cool, quiet voice spoke: "The letter you sent, he will never receive." Chen Qingyan, her temples white yet still appearing no older than twenty, gazed at the girl before her.

"The Fire Qilin Army has penetrated deeper into the borderlands between the two states. Now, with military strongholds everywhere, even birds struggle to cross. Changfeng Tower has lost contact with the Fire Qilin Army; after this, his letters will likely never return."

Xue Shuangtao smiled: "But I still write to him."

"That way, when he returns, he'll have many letters to read."

Chen Qingyan said nothing.

The names Fire Qilin Army and Li Guanyi, though not as renowned as the Regent or Yue Pengwu, were still spoken of—but when people mentioned them, they always doubted them.

Just a lone army. The great nations of the world each fielded hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers.

Among the top hundred divine generals of the world, Ying State held fully three-tenths—over thirty, with generals of every type; Chen State and Tujue each held two-tenths; with Yue Pengwu added, the outer frontier held one-tenth, the Western Regions one-tenth, the Regent one-tenth—large ones numbered in the dozens, small ones still in the single digits. A mere Fire Qilin Army…

Chen Qingyan suddenly froze.

Wait—every great nation has hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers.

Ying State, with its tens of thousands of elite warriors, has only thirty-odd divine generals, each commanding ten thousand troops.

Yet Li Guanyi's Fire Qilin Army…

Within just a few thousand soldiers, if you include General Yuwen Tianxian…

There are already three divine generals.

Three divine generals crammed into a few thousand men.

If you add Pang Shuiyun too…

This ratio was absurdly extreme. By sheer numbers, Li Guanyi was a tiny force—not even a proper faction. But by divine general ratio…

Chen Qingyan suppressed the thought.

She looked at the girl before her and spoke, her tone cool: "But aren't you worried about Nangong Wumeng? She's the new number one on the Beauty Rankings, only eighteen—three years older than you—and already at the Third Heaven Realm."

"Her talent and bone structure are extraordinary."

"According to the letter, she's now under your command, nearly the same age, constantly together."

"It's hard not to develop other feelings."

Xue Shuangtao looked at the letter, clad in a fitted martial outfit, her black hair tied in a tail, and replied: "Actually, Lady Chen Qingyan, I now feel the past half-year was like a dream." She extended her hand, her Bai Xi palm calloused, and clenched it:

"Six months ago, my life was quiet—I ate meals with Grandfather, trained in Wu Gong, studied arithmetic, then played with my brother. The Xue family's high walls were solid, safe. I could only see the sky above Xue Manor and its tranquil days."

"I thought this life would last forever."

"Like any noble lady—growing up, becoming more beautiful, marrying a husband from a noble family, raising children, becoming 'Lady So-and-So' from 'Miss So-and-So.' But that day, when I went to the private school to see Changqing…"

Xue Shuangtao said: "That man barged into my life without reason, shattering my quiet days. He dragged me to skip noble ladies' tea gatherings, ride horses, join the people's festivals in the rain, climb trees."

"He went to Jiangzhou City and became the top candidate in the Grand Sacrifice. He received a hereditary title. He crushed the Ghost Market. He endured humiliation. He killed Dantai Xianming. He rescued Marshal Yue. He even rode a Fire Qilin and broke out of Yicheng."

The girl spoke softly, then reached out, as if still seeing his familiar figure, murmuring: "He's become so far, so far away."

"At first, I thought I was a girl beneath high walls, watching flowers and grass day after day—until one day, a cat fell from the wall. It was starving, yet still bared its claws, wary. I carried that cat happily around."

"But later I learned—it wasn't a cat. It was a tiger."

"I merely happened to see a golden eagle land in the courtyard and thought, 'What a nice bird to keep company.' But how could an eagle ever stay? It would spread its wings and fly across the world. Would I really cut its feathers to keep it here forever?"

She gripped the feather and said: "I don't want that."

Chen Qingyan looked at Xue Shuangtao.

The promise of their youth—would it endure? He would keep moving forward, gathering friends, comrades, subordinates, until he strode far away, riding the world, while she remained in Yicheng, unable to walk beside him.

Xue Shuangtao lifted her head, the heroic girl forcing strength, yet revealing a bright, warm smile, whispering: "I only wish him well."

"Whether I'm well or not—it doesn't matter."

………………

As autumn deepened, Li Guanyi, after defeating Yuwen Tianxian and passing through Zhenbei City, found days slipping by with startling speed; after daily cultivation, bored and listless, he began using the characters of his past life to record his military diary.

Year Ten of the Tianqi Era, under the Great Emperor: early autumn, tenth month.

【Left the Yin-Yang Cycle Sect】

【Personnel swelled: originally sixteen hundred Fire Qilin troops, five hundred heavy cavalry, plus captives—barely four thousand; after one trip to the Yin-Yang Cycle Sect, we became five thousand four hundred. Damn it—only added about a thousand, yet my head feels like it's about to explode】

【My command capacity is probably around five thousand; any more, and my mind can't handle it】

【Just one more, and it'll collapse】

【The Fire Qilin troops entered Shenshan, briefly losing contact with the outside world; Nangong tried venturing out but gained nothing; yet the mountains were rich in resources, especially in autumn—Shi Lao and Lei Laogui both tried their own methods to find things suitable for dried rations】

【Shi Dalin and others didn't know how to make it properly—they crushed nuts and grain into a paste, then had martial artists with fire attribute internal Qi forcibly dehydrate it, producing something like compressed biscuits】

【For those days, scouts couldn't light fires—had to eat this】

【"Motherfucker Vet" — I don't think they'll ever shed that name】

【They found alchemical formulas inside the Yin-Yang Cycle Sect; Shi Lao and others are learning them at full speed, but their methods are too wild—no one knows who taught them, but they've developed a habit of arbitrarily dismantling ancestral pill formulas and adding their own flair】

【What a terrible habit—who spoiled them?】

【The Yin-Yang Cycle Sect's alchemists and herbalists have had noticeably high blood pressure lately】

【Also, some safe Wu Gong from the Yin-Yang Cycle Sect have been made public】

【Seventeen Wu Gong, including 【Yin-Yang Disordered Step】, were approved by Tai Lao Ye】

【Alongside the 【Taiping Book】 and 【Fire Qilin Sword Art】, they form the foundational Wu Gong library of the Fire Qilin Army—anyone may train them; Ling Pingyang seemed surprised, and the five hundred heavy cavalry of the Yue Family Army also selected some esoteric martial arts】

【Good thing Old Pang isn't home today】

【He won't be home tomorrow either】

【Tonight's dinner: powdered root vegetable, squirrel soup, and nuts】

【Lei Laogui's cooking has improved】

Year Ten of the Tianqi Era, under the Great Emperor: December.

【Fuck it!】

Li Guanyi's military diary began with a curse.

【The ever-resourceful Lei Laogui discovered autumn insects were plentiful—he fried them and added them as a side dish; the brothers only found out after eating—Qi Laogui's Seven were inspired, processed the insects into powder, and mixed it into the compressed rations】

【Additional note: The Seven Old Ghosts are forbidden from entering the Logistics Department】

【No alchemists or dogs allowed near the field kitchens】

【This month, seven bandit dens were pacified—they can't even be called dens anymore; there were few people inside, and the surrounding areas were military zones of two nations; after inquiry, we learned these were villages that fled to the mountains after becoming unlivable in our homeland】

【Fan Qing went to talk with them, offering land】

【Seven days later, logistics forces increased by a thousand—all strong, able-bodied men; they chose to venture out; once safe paths were secured, we'd find ways to bring out the elderly and young to safer places】

【They carried dried rations made of grain, and with that look told me: don't worry about our food—just give us a place with lighter taxes. They're excellent laborers—strong, willing to work until they drop】

【As long as they have one bite to eat, they won't run】

【I can't abandon them】

【But damn it! Six thousand five hundred now—wait, do people grow in the forests?】

【I feel like my mind is straining】

【My command capacity is probably six thousand five hundred; add one more, and I'll die right in front of Fan Qing—I'll die under his eyes!】

Eighteenth day

【Encountered refugee mountain folk—heart ached, couldn't ignore them】

【Population increased by two hundred twenty-one】

【Li Guanyi, Li Guanyi—your command capacity is this small; stop adding people】

Twenty-first day

【Logistics personnel increased by one hundred seventy-two】

【General Yuwen, save me!】

【Also, Fan Qing seems to be having his men study the Yin-Yang Cycle Sect's martial formations—he plans to integrate them into our army's battle arrays and see if they work】

【Yuwen Hua mocked】

【Fan Qing's formation development shows initial success】

【Yuwen Hua flew into a rage】

【At night, over monkey wine, I chatted with Yuwen Hua—triggered bloodline passive, unconsciously began ranting about politics】

【Yuwen Hua couldn't argue with me, flew into a fury—he said give him a hundred men, he'd train them better】

【He took the bait—I agreed】

【Nangong Wumeng ventured out and encountered a pack of monstrous snakes; he fell off a cliff by accident and discovered the secluded retreat of a past martial elder—found one superior internal cultivation scripture and one superior fist technique】

【Confirmed as the second-tier advancement of 【Fire Qilin Army Mandatory Wu Gong】】

【Lei Laogui tried jumping off the cliff—failed】

【Fan Qing tried jumping off the cliff—failed】

【Yuwen Hua tried sneaking off the cliff—discovered by the Seven Old Ghosts, dragged back—failed】

【General Yuwen Tianxian flew into a rage, scolded for three hours—everyone abandoned the idea】

【Nangong Wumeng discovered an unmined iron ore mountain】

【Wait, what the hell? Is his fortune just too damn high?】

Year Ten of the Tianqi Era, under the Great Emperor: December, heavy snow.

【Armor was bitterly cold in winter, but Lei Laogui had prepared ahead—he turned all the wild beasts he'd slain into inner armor and leather garments; though slightly foul-smelling, they barely kept everyone from freezing】

【Chang Sun Wuchou successfully acquired a batch of cotton garments; the light cavalry expended great effort to bring them in, preventing losses from the extreme cold】

【Eliminate nearby bandits and robbers】

【With a whole roasted suckling pig as payment, the Fire Qilin assisted in building rudimentary iron-smelting facilities; guided by Shi Lao, the omnipotent quartermaster Lei Laomeng successfully forged extremely crude iron plates, which could be worn by willing able-bodied men and captives】

【The number of armored troops increased to three thousand five hundred, plus five hundred heavy cavalry】

【There are currently four thousand frontline troops and four thousand logistics personnel】

【Eight thousand men, eight thousand men damn it, every day I feel like walking a tightrope】

【I've surely reached my own command limit】

【Additionally, under Shi Lao's guidance, my internal energy cultivation broke through to the peak of the Second Heavenly Layer; after thinking it over, I chose to suppress further advancement—Shi Lao said that cultivators of the Third Heavenly Layer refine their Nascent Soul, while those of the Fourth Heavenly Layer cultivate Divine Essence】

【I already possess a Nascent Soul and a Manifest Form; I might as well first accumulate internal Qi】

【If I accumulate directly to the peak of Dragon Tendons and Tiger Marrow, then break through in one surge, I may leap directly past the Third and Fourth Heavenly Layers】

【But for now, call me Commander of the Fire Qilin Army, Second Heavenly Layer】

In the eleventh year of Emperor's reign, Tianqi, first month.

【During the New Year festival, everyone gathered beneath the iron mine and ate hot pot】

【Shi Lao found spicy medicinal herbs and prepared the broth base; Lei Laomeng found winter snow mountain sheep, and they ate meat boiled in the pot, which seemed to include a special medicinal formula; Qi Laogui didn't care about its nature】

【They were pure wild path cultivators—this delicious broth base was made by combining Yangyin Lunzhuan Sect's Qi-Nourishing Pills; the sect's old alchemist's blood pressure spiked, nearly fainting from rage】

【But the taste was excellent; after eating, it strengthened tendons and bones, expelled cold, and boosted blood and Qi】

【It was the New Year; I am now fifteen by actual age, though many in this era still use nominal age, so I am considered sixteen by them—Shi Lao said this age for a man is the legal age for marriage according to statute】

【Among the distant relatives of the Murong Clan of the Eighteen Southern Provinces, there are many beautiful women】

【I declined with the excuse that the world is not yet pacified—how could I think of family?】

【That day, Yao Guang beat me dozens of times with roasted buns】

【Shi Lao was quite pleased; General Yuwen Tianxian's expression was complex】

【Yuwen Hua's troop training is truly impressive—far superior to Fan Qing; after all, he comes from the top martial general family of the realm, trained as a future great general, embodying both military formation and tactical mastery—truly remarkable, General Yuwen Hua】

【After praising Yuwen Hua so highly, he turned pale with anger, shouting that I was mocking him】

【This kid figured it out!】

【But Fan Qing secretly learned Yuwen Hua's training methods and initiated a Great Training Competition within the Fire Qilin Army—the victors would receive honey-roasted meat from the omnipotent Lei Laomeng】

【Note: Lei Laomeng discovered a hibernating mountain bear, kicked down its den, dragged it out, increasing the number of strange beasts】

【Yuwen Hua lost his first match; Fan Qing's Yin-Yang Cutting Formation achieved preliminary success】

【Yuwen Hua immediately began training as well】

【The First Great Fire Qilin Army Competition began】

【Qi Laogui laughed especially heartily】

In the eleventh year of Emperor's reign, Tianqi, second month.

【Yao Guang activated a formation to conceal the iron mine, and the army continued its march】

【Seven fortresses were broken; we gradually neared the Eighteen Southern Provinces】

【Among the bandits were many fierce rogues, as well as remnants of defeated armies】

【In the mountains and forests, we discovered a hidden disciple of a secluded sect, hiding in a valley; he claimed to be from the era of the Red Emperor, having fled the chaos caused by the Red Emperor and the warlords, living in seclusion for centuries, gradually reproducing by absorbing fleeing refugees】

【I explained the affairs of the mortal world in detail; a group of young people volunteered to join】

【Damn】

【I said you have land; they said they wished to follow me and see the world】

【The Fire Qilin Army's frontline troops increased: four thousand five hundred armored, four thousand five hundred logistics】

【Nine thousand men—no good, no good, this has reached my command limit】

【One more person, just one more, and I feel my army will collapse outright】

【Additionally—Nangong Wumeng discovered a copper mine】

【I'm numb; I told her, if you're so capable, find a gold mine】

【She gave me a look like, "What are you trying to do?"】

【Also, damn it, the veterinarians—these people concocted a medicine using 【Ba Ji Tian, Fu Ling, Tu Si Zi, Rou Cong Rong, Dang Gui, Fu Pen Zi, Wu Wei Zi】 called "Kidney-Boosting Blood-Generating Decoction," then removed the aphrodisiac components using a recipe from a pig butcher】

【They created a pill that causes explosive blood and Qi surges, increases strength, and agitates the body's vital energy】

【It also seems to induce a "wise man mode" in those who take it】

【How the hell did they come up with this?!】

【Bestowed name: Great Strength Vajra Pill】

In the eleventh year of Emperor's reign, Tianqi, third month.

【Discovered a band of deserters, crushed and absorbed them】

【Too many men—the previous armor was insufficient; good】

【Chen Kingdom scouts engaged in skirmishes】

【The number of strange beasts gradually increased; after much time, the omnipotent Lei Laomeng finally understood the mechanism of the crossbow, hand-crafting spring-like mechanisms from internal energy and forging crossbows from the iron he had previously refined】

【Accuracy was terrible; combat effectiveness was poor】

【After Qi Laogui's suggestion, Lei Laomeng scaled up the human crossbows and mounted them on giant bears and other strange beasts; each fired once, launching bolts the size of siege engines—too large for human warriors to handle】

【Poor accuracy doesn't matter, as long as the bolts are big and numerous】

【I feel the Fire Qilin Army's style has become too wild path】

【General Yuwen Tianxian somehow integrated the strange beast corps into large-scale combined arms tactics—no wonder he's called one of the most skilled commanders in this generation at multi-unit coordination】

【Additionally—】

Li Guanyi raised an eyebrow; the sixteen-year-old young general's brow was now far more composed. His armor bore numerous scratches—from leaving Zhenbei Pass to Yangyin Lunzhuan Sect two months ago, then from leaving Yangyin Lunzhuan Sect to here, another six months had passed—eight months total.

Eight months, trampling mountains and smashing forts.

The young general wrote:

"Currently, the Fire Qilin Army has six thousand frontline infantry and six thousand five hundred logistics personnel."

"Five hundred beast troops."

"Five hundred heavy cavalry."

"Total: thirteen thousand five hundred men."

"Among them, due to routed troops, armor from the Yuwen family's army, and the shoddy armor crafted by the ever-resourceful Lei Laomeng under Great Grandfather's guidance, as well as leather armor made from tanned hides, every combatant is armored, divided into heavy and light armor."

"I feel I have reached the absolute limit of my command ability. I had to scatter my previous sixteen hundred men to become the backbone of this army just to keep it from collapsing—but this is my limit, this must be my limit."

"And we haven't even fought yet; I can only lead them forward—I absolutely cannot command a force of this scale."

"My head aches, but it's fine, it's fine—we're almost there."

"Report!!!"

A grim cry came from outside.

After receiving Dao's permission,

A sturdy young man strode in and said: "General, we are only a hundred li from the Eighteen Provinces of Jiangnan. Our scout troops have discovered that the border city of the Murong clan, on the edge of the Eighteen Provinces, is under siege by Chen army forces."

He delivered the scout troop's intelligence.

Li Guanyi glanced at it, set down his brush, and closed the campaign log.

He picked up his sword and stepped out of the plain command tent.

The spring sunlight was warm, slightly blinding.

The wind howled through the sky with a fierce sound.

The crimson banner rolled in the sunlight; seven thousand frontline troops stood assembled, all armored, weapons in hand, radiating a deadly aura. Li Guanyi looked at them, took a deep breath, and said: "We are still a hundred li from the Eighteen Provinces of Jiangnan."

"Prepare to march."

The young man's voice was calm.

The response was grim and silent.

They stepped forward in perfect unison.

Their armor was scarred with countless wounds.

Eight months, sixty-seven battles, all won.

They lowered their eyes, clenched their fists, and struck their chests in perfect unison.

They were no longer a rabble—they answered thus.

"Aye!"