Chapter 354: Reunion After Long Separation

In the midst of a hundred thousand troops, single-handedly break through the formation?!

After confirming this achievement, Po Jun burst into loud laughter, feeling utterly exhilarated and immensely satisfied—such a tactic, such heroic grandeur, would surely be etched in history; this was truly his lord.

Wang Shunchen strode forward, hearing Po Jun's laughter, and asked in confusion.

Po Jun informed Wang Shunchen of the intelligence; Wang Shunchen was also greatly delighted. Po Jun clapped his hands and said: "The lord's actions have surpassed my expectations—if such renown is not exploited, would it not be a terrible waste?"

"We must ride this momentum to spread our fame."

"Use this great tide to seize control of this vast western territory!"

A great victory worthy of immortalization in the annals!

In the Western Regions, reputation is also a form of strength!

Single-handedly charging the formation, slaying generals and seizing banners—such heroic valor must be eternally remembered in this world with glorious renown; future warriors boasting of their courage might well say they rival the Qilin of old.

Possessing the valor of a Qilin, invincible against ten thousand men.

Po Jun smiled: "Perhaps we can swallow even more cities at once."

"Xiyicheng is in chaos; the Tanguts and various clans are all acting."

"Is this not our chance to profit from the momentum!"

………………

Above the heavens, starlight shifted and transformed; the seven stars of the White Tiger in the west blazed with radiant light.

In stellar omens, this signified that the one destined by the Seven Stars of Bai Hu had achieved a great and glorious victory.

In Xiyicheng, the silver-haired girl raised her head, seeing the starlight—the stars brought news of Li Guanyi's victory. In the guest quarters of the Duke's mansion, no one disturbed her.

She sat by the lotus pond, autumn deepening, the lotus leaves withered and fallen.

Yao Guang plucked a fallen leaf and covered the radiance of the Seven Stars of Bai Hu.

Using arcane arts and arrays to alter the stellar signs, she prevented others from deducing Li Guanyi's presence in the Western Regions. After a slight divination, she learned of his great victory, and her mood eased considerably; after thought, she made a decision.

She rose and left the courtyard.

She changed into a simple stargazer's hooded robe, pulled the hood over her head, appearing like an unassuming cultivator, concealing her striking silver hair and beautiful face, adjusted her collar, and stepped out.

She looked up at Xiyicheng.

She keenly sensed the difference in the city's atmosphere.

With the Phoenix gone and the Duke departed, long-suppressed elements beneath the surface naturally surged upward.

With her mastery of arcane arts and arrays, Yao Guang faintly sensed a familiar yet alien aura; her eyes shimmered with misty light as she employed a concealment technique and walked out slowly.

In her reflection, Xiyicheng carried threads of ink-black energy.

The girl walked to the Western Market and stopped before a stall, extending two fingers.

The vendor greeted her warmly: "Oh, the customer's back for buns again!"

"We've got freshly kneaded dough pieces, noodle soup, fresh persimmons, good lamb—autumn's cold, so warm, soupy food warms the body. Would you like some today?"

In his eyes, the customer was a thin, tall man, cold and silent, always buying only buns—and today was no different; the customer shook his head, stubbornly insisting on buns alone.

The vendor handed out the buns and packed them into the bag.

Yao Guang placed several large coins on the table, picked up the bag, and walked off.

Along the way, she bought many things; in the eyes of different vendors, she appeared as different people—a slender man, an old man, a plump woman, even a child buying for family.

Her arcane arts concealed her aura; Murong Qiushui had taught her the Murong family's secret technique, "Twelve Layers of Jiangnan Mist and Rain Divine Art."

Yao Guang learned it swiftly, integrating it with her own arts, becoming as if a thousand faces, a thousand people.

She bought buns in the Western Market, water bags in the Eastern Market—everything was packed into her satchel; the girl struggled to carry it, as if, having spent over two years with Li Guanyi, she had unconsciously forgotten her own physical limits.

These items exceeded her strength limit.

The girl exhaled, setting down the overloaded satchel.

She slowly exhaled the stale air.

She rolled up her right sleeve slightly with her left hand, rolled up her left sleeve slightly with her right hand, revealing her pale wrists and palms; she twisted the bag's opening several times into a braid, gripped it firmly, drew a deep breath, and strained—

Pull!

The girl's cheeks flushed slightly, but she could not lift it.

One… two… three…

Huh!

The bundle fell heavily to the ground again.

Yao Guang panted lightly, frowning.

As she considered other options, she suddenly paused, a flicker of confusion crossing her expressionless face; she turned toward a towering, opulent tavern, thought for a moment, set the bag down, and cast an arcane concealment upon it.

Then she entered the tavern—this time using her own technique; others saw her as if she were air, drifting lazily inside until she reached a room's door, listening faintly to the sounds within:

"So the old man's out?!"

"Tch, didn't expect my 'second brother' and that Tian Ge'er actually had some skill—they managed to survive such a perilous situation!"

"The old man's return is good—it secures our family's wealth, but too bad, I'm still just the third young master, never becoming the Third Lord of Xiyicheng."

The silver-haired girl pondered, discerning.

Her left hand clenched into a fist, gently tapping her right palm, expressionless.

She remembered.

She recalled the owner of that domineering voice—the Duke's third young master. Hearing such talk, she sensed something amiss; she pulled out an ordinary jade stone and, following Master Siming's method, inscribed it with an arcane technique.

Then, quietly slipping in during a servant's food delivery, she entered.

She activated her technique, recording every sound within.

The third young master, Li Yuanchang, sat within, embracing a delicate, lovely girl—not of heavenly beauty, yet exquisitely graceful. Li Yuanchang, no longer the inept son before his father and brothers, now carried a shadow of gloom in his eyes.

The woman giggled: "Young Master, to speak such words violates filial piety—where in this world is there a son who hopes his father is trapped and doomed in a city?"

Li Yuanchang merely said: "This is only because my father treats me this way."

He gave a self-deprecating smile, holding his wine cup, and said softly:

"My elder brother was raised as the heir—everyone in the world knows that the young master of our Xiyicheng Ducal Mansion possesses peerless character, literary talent, and Wu Gong; while the 'second brother,' her bearing is extraordinary, her insight transcendent, surpassing even my elder brother."

"I am merely a stepping stone my father uses to balance them, and after my elder brother ascends, I become a pawn, a sword in his hand, used to oppose the 'second brother' and maintain the balance of Xiyicheng."

"A son fit for a Duke is raised as a Duke; a hero fit for a Divine General must embody the nature of a Divine General. Only I, not the eldest, not martial enough, am given only gold and silver trinkets, left to grow as I please."

"If my father does not raise me to their standard, does not see me as a true son, then he cannot blame me."

Another gentle woman, her expression compassionate, said:

"Third Young Master has suffered greatly."

Li Yuanchang gave a self-deprecating smile: "The world calls me reckless, but if I were not reckless, I would long ago have become a pawn, drawn into the balance of Xiyicheng—forced to act the fool before my elder brother and the 'second brother.'"

"Only thus can I enjoy long life and peace."

His voice paused; he wrapped his arm around the woman's waist and said coolly:

"This time, I provided intelligence to your Lord Master. The 'second brother' went herself—if she fails, Father dies, the 'second brother' bears guilt, the court blames her, and the blame falls squarely on my elder brother."

"If she succeeds, the Ducal title may be downgraded to Hou Jue—but that Hou Jue shall be mine to inherit!"

"Even if Your Majesty refuses to honor my family's ancestral pledge to forever guard the Western Frontier."

"To see my composed elder brother, my radiant 'second brother,' both fall into the mud like me—that alone would make my life worth living, utterly satisfying!"

"Yet it's a pity—even one hundred thousand troops couldn't stop him?"

At this moment, no intelligence had yet reached him; he knew nothing of the eight hundred Xuanjia charging the formation, nothing of Li Guanyi single-handedly slaying the general. He merely played the dissolute Young Master, seated in the grand fortress of Xiyicheng, exuding an air of overlooking the entire world.

He seemed drunk, lowering his head to inhale deeply against the gentle beauty's neck; she let out a soft moan, her face flushed, pushing him away, then, shyly, bit the golden wine cup to offer him wine.

The scene was intensely sensual.

Yet between them, there were already seven or eight layers of cunning.

Who in this chaotic age, occupying such a position, could ever be truly easy to deal with?

The silver-haired girl cast a strange technique, recording every moment.

Her face showed no expression.

Watch—

All circumstances were recorded.

Li Yuanchang frowned again: "Still, your Lord Master said I should watch for a silver-haired girl near Tian Ge'er—I never got a chance to act. Why are you looking for her?"

The singer smiled playfully: "That is the Lord Master's private matter."

"I don't know."

Li Yuanchang sighed: "Pity, pity. I had planned to find a way to bring her to you, but the 'second brother's' guest was guarded by fierce warriors personally assigned by her, and lately she hasn't left her courtyard—I simply can't get to her."

The singer said: "Pity, pity."

"Yet even if one hundred thousand troops have been repelled, our Lord Master has already prepared methods to absorb the Qi Yun—many wonders, which I, of my lowly station, cannot know."

The woman lowered her eyes, knowing Xiao Yuxue still had cruel plans for the man guarding Yemeng Pass.

Bai Di had taken a sword blow, yet still possessed immense Qi Yun.

With this Qi Yun, he could strike from afar—fewer than five in the world could block it!

Lord Master Xiao Yuxue's methods involve a woman of the Jianghu stepping into the world's struggles.

The advantage lies with us.

But she could not say this to Li Yuanchang; instead, she smiled sweetly: "If Young Master wishes to join our Holy Sect, wouldn't you learn all its wonders?"

Li Yuanchang only smiled, not answering, his eyes cold with disdain.

He saw these singers, this Holy Sect, as knives.

Yet in the eyes of the gentle, beautiful singer, there was also mockery and contempt for this scion of a noble house.

Suddenly, Li Yuanchang tightened his arm, pulling the beautiful woman into his embrace, cheeks pressed together, necks entwined, silk and brocade swirling like two patterned venomous snakes coiled together—in this chaotic age, the man's coldness and the woman's cruelty formed a perfect match.

The silver-haired girl crouched there, holding the jade tablet high.

Watch again—

All these vile postures, all the suspicion and vigilance in their eyes, she collected completely.

The girl, devoid of emotional fluctuation, was like a celestial deity, gazing down upon the chaos of this age—its love, hate, longing, and sorrow—her gaze distant and serene, as if not of this world.

When the timing was nearly right, the silver-haired girl stepped away slowly.

Only as she left did her gaze linger for a moment on a plate of pastries on the table; for some reason, it froze, then continued following the serving boy out, down, until she found her small bundle.

She thought for a moment, saw someone driving a cart nearby, and borrowed one.

After much effort, she returned to her courtyard, dispelled the technique, and examined all the items.

Yao Guang left many things behind, then, wearing a hood, knocked on the door of the nearby small house.

Hao Yuan Xia, seeing the star-gazing adept beside Li Guanyi, lowered his guard:

"What is it?"

Yao Guang handed him a letter: "Leave this here."

Hao Yuan Xia frowned: "And you?"

Yao Guang said: "I must leave for a while."

Hao Yuan Xia: "??? Is this planned?"

The silver-haired star-gazing adept replied: "No."

It was merely a sudden thought.

Hao Yuan Xia knew staying here was safest; he slowly nodded, and he trusted that the virtuous, renowned Qin Wu Hou would not abandon him. The silver-haired girl turned and left, taking her belongings, her pack.

She walked out from the Ducal Mansion, where people bustled and emotions ran tense, quietly found her horse, untied its reins, and hung her pack upon it.

She wore a hooded cloak and rode a horse, the bell on its bridle ringing clear and crisp.

As she had done every day, she walked into the wind and the great desert.

………………

Li Guanyi never intended to impose a heavy, suffocating pressure upon Zhu Xie Ke.

He had simply finished his meal and intended to get more meat porridge; his Changsheng Bumie Body was extraordinarily formidable, and combined with the physique he had forged since beginning cultivation, in the same realm, he was no less than a hegemon.

In battle, whether strength, defense, or internal Qi circulation, all were immensely powerful.

But correspondingly, after such a great battle, the cost of replenishing the body's primordial Qi was immense; this depletion and loss could be partially restored through cultivation breathing, and partially through food and pills.

Li Guanyi had already swallowed his personal pills and eaten much meat porridge; as a Master-level Wu Gong, his internal organs were formidable—even ordinary poisons, when ingested by Li Guanyi, were digested outright.

Finally, his stomach was full, yet his body did not feel satiated.

But Li Guanyi could not eat more; his body's primordial Qi depletion could be restored through pills and breathing, but these common folk lacked his abilities, and food was ultimately scarce.

Li Guanyi cast a glance.

Yu Langwang devoured meat porridge in large gulps; the tough, muscular meat of the warhorses, which was hard to chew, crumbled instantly in his mouth and was swallowed. The three hundred and odd Xuanjia soldiers were split into two groups.

One group followed Li Zhaowen; the other, the fiercest troublemakers in the ranks, remained at Yemenguan.

Li Guanyi returned to his quarters, rubbing his temples, pondering the current situation.

The crisis in Xiyicheng had been resolved, but correspondingly, the entire Western Regions had become more turbulent than ever.

What must be done next is to seize the forty-two cities promised by Lord Li as swiftly as possible; Lord Li is no fool, and his stance differs from Li Guanyi's; though he promised the forty-two cities, he will surely seek to reclaim them afterward.

After this battle, Li Guanyi suspects someone will deduce his identity.

The world is vast; it is impossible for someone of such youth and such Wu Gong to suddenly emerge from a crack in a rock—but speculation remains speculation. Li Guanyi currently only wishes to devour his meat before his identity draws too many negative consequences.

Huh? You figured it out?

I deny it.

It's not true!

The young general sat cross-legged in an empty place, extended a finger, tapped his forehead, and muttered: "Build high walls, stockpile grain, delay proclaiming kingship…"

After all, in this chaotic age, at this moment, fame only tells everyone how troublesome you are; if Helian Jieshan knew the one who charged the formation was the Fire Qilin of Jiangnan, the forty-seventh name on the List of Celestial Generals, Qin Wu Hou, he would never have sent only three thousand rear troops against him.

He'd have to rise and fight—likely disregarding all caution, directly turning his elite forces to launch a furious assault.

Li Guanyi could never have accomplished the feat of charging the formation and slaying the general.

Fame, when the great tide has already formed, is a blazing fire that propels the tide upward—but precisely because its effect is so potent, if they knew Li Guanyi was here, Yu Langwang and the Tangxi would instantly shift strategy.

The three characters "Li Guanyi" alone are enough to make them do so.

Although he realized his name had grown from that of a minor pharmacist at Huichun Hall to one capable of shifting the great tides of the world, Li Guanyi felt no joy.

Li Guanyi had no interest in clashing with the fourth-ranked general of the realm, who commanded hundreds of thousands.

Quietly grow rich; while others kill each other, sneak behind and develop.

Hold a heart as cautious as walking on thin ice, yet act with bold, relentless advancement.

Face all comers without fear, yet never boast.

When to strike, strike hard; when to hold, hold firm.

Li Guanyi muttered:

"Forty-two cities…?"

His memory was excellent; Li Zhaowen had shown him part of the Western Regions' topographic map.

Between those forty-two cities lay scattered the various city-states, oases, and towns of the Western Regions.

Li Guanyi muttered: "The great tide of the world lies only in seizing the lead."

"Before my identity is exposed and Yu Langwang comes to kill me, before Jiang Wanxiang grows wary, I must seize as much territory as possible across this vast Western Region… there can be no retreat."

"The Thirty-Six Western Tribes, the Tangxi Kingdom, the remnants of Tuyuhun, this Seven-Tribes Alliance, the Nine Tiele Tribes, the Qiang—aside from these, seventeen tribes remain unseen; these seventeen are surely held back at the great pass by Xiao Wuliang, the fifteenth-ranked general under Yu Langwang."

Li Guanyi felt a faint sense of urgency.

The Seven-Tribes Alliance already had such prestige; what of the seventeen?

Li Guanyi rubbed his temples, now hoping to immediately obtain the complete Western Regions map and the mine array diagrams from Hao Yuan Xia, to enhance his strength, foundation, and depth in the shortest time possible.

At that moment, someone came to visit—it was a Mojia disciple who had helped defend Yemenguan; when Li Shude and others departed, they wished to take the Mojia disciples with them, but the disciples said they wished only to help these common folk defend the city.

Seeing Li Guanyi's forces obey orders strictly and harm no civilians, they came to pay their respects.

They then fully recounted the city-defense strategies.

Li Guanyi nodded in agreement; over these days, he mobilized the Western Region prisoners to help rebuild the city. This task would normally consume immense time, but these warriors were each immensely strong, able to cleave through hard rock with their weapons.

Their rebuilding of the city was far faster than that of ordinary civilians.

With Mojia's assistance, within these few days, Yemenguan's walls were rebuilt; during this time, Changsun Wuchou came once; when the many Western Region prisoners saw the Da Wan tribe, who had escaped, captured again, they completely lost their spirit.

Yet their reverence for Li Guanyi grew ever deeper.

Changsun Wuchou left a substantial amount of grain and transported the five hundred thousand wolf-tooth barbed arrows to Anxi City; on his round trip, he also opened trade routes, bringing essential goods to the city.

Li Guanyi finally relaxed, feeling he could breathe easier, and began selecting local youths, teaching them city-defense strategies, and assigning veteran soldiers from the Anxi Protectorate to serve as Captains and Sergeants to rebuild the city's defense system.

Li Guanyi said: "It's time to return to Xiyicheng."

He extended his hand, clenched his fist; after that day's charge, Li Guanyi felt his Wu Gong was subtly on the verge of breakthrough, especially his command ability, which now felt uniquely intuitive.

Li Guanyi's true command capacity was fifty thousand.

Previously, commanding one hundred thousand, many were merely common civilians.

But now, Li Guanyi felt his command capacity had broken through; the soldiers respected him from the heart, obeyed orders without hesitation, cooperated proactively, saving the commander immense mental effort.

This is why great generals always have their own core troops and armies.

What is his command capacity now?

Fifty thousand one? Or fifty thousand two?

Hmm, I didn't expect such a limit could still be broken.

I wonder, if combined with the Golden Wang Yin, what level could it reach?

A true hundred-thousand elite army?

Heh… impossible.

Probably just overthinking.

Li Guanyi thought, looking up at the sky—a hazy, gray expanse.

He had planned to head to Xiyicheng immediately, but in autumn, sandstorms rose around him, obscuring the path and making direction impossible; without Yao Guang, Li Guanyi could not accurately determine his position in this western wilderness.

It was even harder to guarantee finding sheltered rest spots with water sources during such a march.

Li Guanyi didn't know why he felt irritable; he shook his head and frowned.

"Once the sandstorm calms, I must return immediately."

"Get the money Lord Li promised, take that kid Hao Yuan Xia, pick up Yao Guang, turn back at once, and seize those forty-two cities within a month—before my identity is exposed…"

Li Guanyi suppressed his inner irritation and flipped through the remaining Juan Sect documents in this Night Gate Pass, when suddenly someone tapped his shoulder.

Li Guanyi said: "Yao Guang, don't play around…"

He paused, then realized the figure that had never left his side for over two years was absent; he hesitated, then said: "Sorry, I called the wrong person. Who else would have such thoughts?"

As he spoke, he turned around.

A cool finger prodded his cheek.

Prodded. Prodded.

The young general's smile froze as he stared at the silver-haired girl who had silently appeared behind him—he nearly thought he was dreaming, dazed, his eyes widening.

The silver-haired girl watched Li Guanyi in silence.

Her Star-Reading Scholar robes were caked in dust, her silver hair slightly dulled, yet her eyes remained clear; she rode alone, carrying rations and a water skin, having crossed vast distances to arrive here.

Li Guanyi stood frozen for a long while.

The girl's voice was calm: "I thought… you might need me."

She had traveled a long, long road, crossed mountains and rivers, just to come here and say those words.

The silver-haired girl clasped her hands together; her exquisitely inhuman face showed no expression, her voice calm, undisturbed:

"I brought some steamed buns."

"I thought… you might have missed me."

The silver-haired girl stood up, thought for a moment, opened her arms, and gazed quietly at Li Guanyi with her clear eyes:

"I'm sorry. I lied."

"I really missed you."

Li Guanyi fell silent for a long time; the girl tilted her head, a strand of silver hair at her temple falling, still dusted with desert sand:

"Can I… hug you?"

Li Guanyi stood, extended his arms, and pulled the girl into his embrace.

Soft and ethereal, like light that might vanish at any moment.

The "Yao Guang and Li Guanyi Handbook":

【Thus, we reunited.】

?? Damn it, my sleep schedule (struggling to fight back)

? Goodnight everyone, please vote for monthly tickets (peaceful)