Chapter 383: The Tide Turns: United Against the Wolf King

In Anxi City, Po Jun stared at the strategic map, his face gaunt, eyes weary yet brimming with vigor; intelligence arrived at a relentless pace, and with each report, he marked a crimson line on the map.

The aura representing the Wolf King's advance drew ever closer.

General Yue Qianfeng, Yuan Zhi, and the Furious-Scaled Dragon King Kou Yulie had all deployed.

Within a short time, the Wolf King had shattered three commanders.

He smashed straight through Yue Qianfeng's formation.

He shattered Yuan Zhi's Eight Gates Golden Lock Array, riding alone to flaunt his might.

The Furious-Scaled Dragon King, ill-suited for desert warfare, was defeated as well.

Had it not been for Wen He's cunning stratagem, the seasoned prowess of these three commanders, and the Wolf King's apparent reluctance to prolong the battle—instead charging straight for Anxi City—the cost would have been even greater.

"... Has this old wolf realized the Lord is not here?"

"Or has he guessed the Lord's western campaign?"

Po Jun bit the end of his brush, his brows knitted.

This old wolf acted on impulse, turning his army around and charging straight here; in Anxi City, few troops could match the Wolf King's personal guard, and not a single general could stand against him.

General Yue Qianfeng, since arriving here, has fought brutal battles every time.

The first time, he aided Li Guanyi, battling a Peak Seventh Heaven commander against the Wolf King—his bones ached, his throat filled with blood.

The second time, when Li Guanyi marched west, Yue Qianfeng led the vanguard.

He fought endlessly against the so-called Khans appointed by the Wolf King, then encountered Xiao Wuliang, ranked fifteenth; unlike when he rescued Marshal Yue, Xiao Wuliang unleashed his full strength—Yue Qianfeng could not prevail, drenched in blood, yet refused to retreat.

It was the famed general of the Yan State, Grand Marshal Qin Yulong, who came to his aid.

Only together did they defeat Xiao Wuliang.

After Xiao Wuliang retreated, he encountered He Ruo Qinhu—and another fierce battle ensued.

Now this is the third time; within a month he suffered two serious wounds, still not fully healed, yet forced to remount and clash again with the Wolf King, using his far weaker strength to stall the Wolf King's advance for a time.

Then he was thrown from his horse, his Crimson Dragon Manifestation shattered, sustaining further grave injuries.

Only Wen He's hidden stratagem saved him from total defeat.

Now he is utterly unfit to fight, lying in bed cursing the old Wolf King—during the battle, the old wolf's reverse spear strike had laid him low, leaving him seething with rage.

Po Jun sighed and ranked Yue Qianfeng as first in military merit.

"When the Lord is absent, it is General Yue Qianfeng who holds the line under pressure."

"When peace finally comes, he must be granted the title of Duke."

The Wolf King's vanguard reached the city's gates; the Wolf King, invigorated, rode forward, laughing loudly to challenge—Po Jun refused to appear, sealing the city defenses tightly, yet sadly, Po Jun was not exceptionally skilled in strategy, especially defense.

He was not Lu Youxian; the Wolf King prepared to assault the city and sent a set of women's clothing inside.

As mockery.

Master Pojun Jun burned it outright.

Then he retreated into siege.

The Wolf King grew ever more confident: "If this is so, then my good nephew truly isn't here? Good! Hahaha! If you have such courage, you're worthy of battle."

Only when attacking did Po Jun feel rare unease, yet dared not show it—when suddenly, from behind the army, hooves thundered; thousands of troops surged from the Wolf King's left rear flank, disrupting his assault preparations.

Hearing this, Po Jun rejoiced and sent his personal guard, Ximen Hengrong, to investigate; Ximen Hengrong climbed the wall, using his Bazhongtian Master's sight to peer far—and saw within the army.

A young commander led cavalry clad in black armor, slashing back and forth.

A faint divine aura had emerged, amplified by the battlefield's martial energy: a golden-red phoenix weaving through the Wolf King's ranks, flaunting its might; the Wolf King Sect's officer, former Jianghu Little Sword Saint Xu Huiyang, stepped forward and was defeated.

Chen Wenmian rode out to assist—also defeated.

The Wolf King had no choice but to personally lead troops to suppress him; only then did the young commander withdraw. Hearing this, Yue Qianfeng rushed straight to the strategist's quarters.

Po Jun, Wen He, and Master Yan Daiqing were discussing military strategy when the door burst open—bloodstained air rushed in, so thick it stung the eyes.

There strode a massive man, entirely bandaged, reeking of blood and medicinal herbs—Yue Qianfeng, eyes blazing, demanded to fight.

Po Jun refused.

Yue Qianfeng glared fiercely: "We stand at life or death—if the Lord does not return, our strategy will be shattered by the Wolf King; how many more comrades will die on the battlefield than now?"

"Others can die—why can't Yue Qianfeng?"

"There is no such logic!"

"I beg to be allowed to fight!"

Po Jun fell silent for a long while, then bowed; Yue Qianfeng, still grievously wounded, donned armor, mounted his horse, and returned to battle—fought over a dozen rounds with the Wolf King, wounds splitting open, blood gushing, yet roared on in fierce combat; the Wolf King marveled: "What a man."

Po Jun's face tightened, his fists clenched tight.

Against such an opponent—cunning, ferocious—eventually, strategy's effect dwindles to nothing; victory rests on the valor of generals. He stared fixedly at the frontline: Yue Qianfeng, Yan Xuanji, and Wei Chi Xiong fought, with Li Zhaowen supporting.

But still not enough. Not enough.

Top-tier generals cannot be matched by these commanders; the garrison left in Anxi City cannot rival the Wolf King's fifty thousand elite troops; no one anticipated that while both armies faced off,

the Wolf King would abandon his own camp, carve a path straight into enemy territory—such a strategy, if it failed, would leave him encircled front and rear, with no hope of retreat.

Po Jun fell silent.

The Wolf King's actions—penetrating Anxi City's territory—

resemble Li Guanyi's charge into the Western Regions.

What is the difference?

Both are equally bold, equally glorious.

The Wolf King remained calm, gripping his twin-bladed spear in one hand, white hair flowing, laughing aloud: "What's wrong, Tian Kehan? A mighty warrior like you just watches your subordinates fight outside, motionless?"

"You truly are... insufficient!"

He seized Yan Xuanji's spear with one hand, effortlessly dodged Wei Chi Xiong's iron whip, his White Wolf Manifestation suppressing the Crimson Dragon and the Phoenix—behind him, his army roared:

"Bravo!"

"Brilliant!!!"

General Yue Qianfeng's eyes bulged with rage; he strained to muster more strength, but suddenly his vision blurred.

Damn!

Within a single month, he had fought multiple brutal battles; his wounds had never had time to heal.

Now, in this fierce battle with the Wolf King, his wounds split open again; his mastery over flesh and blood, refined at the Master level, could no longer be fully exerted. The Wolf King's strike shattered his control, causing him to bleed excessively and his vision to blur.

A mistake had been made.

In that single instant of weakness, the Wolf King's spear swept across him; his battle halberd spun away from his grip. Without hesitation, the Wolf King drove his twin-bladed spear downward toward Yue Qianfeng. Yan Xuanji and Yu Chi Xiong were too late to rescue him; their eyes bulged with horror.

Yue Qianfeng's vision turned black.

Memories of past days flashed before his eyes like a whirlwind.

First the bandits, then General Yue's battle general—finally, he thought of the young herbalist in the mountain shrine three years ago.

To die on the battlefield…

Not bad.

Yet at that moment, as the three armies roared, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air. The Wolf King suddenly felt a terrifying aura lock onto him; his pupils shrank sharply, and he twisted his body mid-strike, abandoning Yue Qianfeng.

He swept sideways—cutting through.

The piercing whistle exploded.

It shattered the howling roar of the Wolf King's army.

White plumes fell from the Wolf King's helmet; an arrow scattered. The Wolf King's eyes widened slightly. He looked up and saw a lone figure standing atop the city wall—wearing black battle armor, draped in a battle cloak. Li Guanyi leapt directly from the wall, raising his Tiger Roar Battle Halberd.

The Bai Hu manifestation reared its head and roared, tearing at the four directions; terrifying murderous energy surged. Li Guanyi channeled this aura downward, and the divine weapon bent nearly to breaking under the force before crashing down.

The Wolf King said: "You're still here."

In those words, his regret was overwhelming.

You're still here!

Too bad—I couldn't break through your city in one strike!

You're still here!

Too bad, too bad—I never hoped for such boldness.

The Wolf King sighed, raising only half his strength to block—but in the next instant, he sensed something wrong. The power surging from the descending halberd was unimaginable; he could no longer resist with one hand and instinctively raised both.

Boom!!!

A massive shockwave rolled outward in both directions.

The Wolf King's face changed instantly.

He had blocked Li Guanyi's charged downward slash. He looked up at Li Guanyi, whose sleeves fluttered wildly, and smelled an overwhelming stench of blood and murderous energy. "You've broken through?!"

Li Guanyi replied deliberately: "Accidentally. Just happened to break through."

The Wolf King froze, then burst into loud laughter. He snapped his hands apart, summoning his military aura. Li Guanyi stepped back, landing on his warhorse, steadying himself. For a moment, both Anxi City and the Wolf King's army fell silent.

But the Wolf Guard's previously soaring morale suddenly plummeted.

The Anxi army's morale surged.

Li Guanyi exhaled a cloud of turbid qi. The Anxi garrison's military aura surged, bolstered by Yuan Zhi's aid. Li Guanyi felt the Nine Cauldrons' energy and the martial bloodlust rising within him as he stared at the Wolf King before him.

In the struggle for dominance, the Wolf King's army pressed forward alone; Li Guanyi had circled through the Western Regions to strike from behind.

The tide of the world, our very selves—we are but pawns.

We merely enter the game with our bodies.

Li Guanyi glanced sideways and saw Yue Qianfeng supported by Yan Xuanji, regaining his stance; his divine steed was restless. Li Guanyi lowered his gaze, exchanged a glance with Li Zhaowen, who smiled carefree: "Brother, impressive skill, impressive bearing!"

Li Guanyi said:

"I'm on the verge of breaking through—I'll need your help, Brother… Brother Erlang."

Li Zhaowen smiled carefree: "We made a pact long ago—to strike the Wolf King together."

"I came here only to honor that promise."

Li Guanyi nodded, tapped his halberd on the ground, swept it once—and the buried hand-halberd leapt up, spinning as it fell.

Yue Qianfeng instinctively raised his hand and caught the halberd.

Li Guanyi spurred his mount forward, saying no words of comfort or concern—only softly: "Big Brother Yue, guard my flank."

Yue Qianfeng stared at Li Guanyi, reins pulled tight, standing at the very front. For a moment, he was dazed.

Could that young herbalist from three years ago have grown to this level?

Then, a boundless surge of heroic spirit rose again in Yue Qianfeng's chest. He laughed loudly: "Good!!!"

Po Jun crouched atop the wall, palm pressed against the bricks, ignoring Ximen Hengrong's orders to retreat. A mere Second Heaven Realm warrior like Po Jun was nothing but a weakling on this battlefield—single arrow from the Wolf King would end him.

Yet now, Ximen Hengrong could not pull him back at all.

Po Jun's purple eyes fixed on Li Guanyi on the battlefield, brightening; his lips curled upward. Had it not been for the Wolf King, he would have burst into laughter.

After all, Li Guanyi's presence meant the Anxi City's core strategic plan had succeeded!

The tide of fate now rested in their hands!

Such divine valor—no wonder he is my lord!

Po Jun's lips curled, then suppressed—until he could no longer hold back. The curve grew wider. He leaned on the wall, watching the battlefield. To a strategist like him, the great struggle for the world was but a grand game of chess.

Earlier, the Wolf King had pressed forward step by step, his momentum like a raging torrent.

He had nearly delivered checkmate.

Now, Li Guanyi was the critical move that blocked that strike.

The tide turned—right now.

This was the greatest joy, the sweetest relief, for a strategist.

The General held his sword in his right hand; if his body skills weren't so abysmal—likely breaking his legs if he jumped over the wall—he would've been exhilarated, eager to leap down and swing his Fish-and-Water Sword like a cleaver in close combat.

Lord Ximen Hengrong, Lei Laomeng, and Xu Tiange could not stop Mr. Master Wen He.

"Fuck, Mr., it's not safe here—arrows are flying everywhere; one misstep…"

Ximen Hengrong smashed the incoming arrow with a palm strike, his face turning pale.

If this military advisor were to die here, Ximen Hengrong could hang himself with a rope.

But this fellow can't be grabbed, can't be carried away, and can't be struck…

Bang!!

A dull thud—the fervent, feverish Master of Strategy froze, touched the back of his head, felt a lump, rolled his eyes, and collapsed face-down, lying there peacefully asleep.

Ximen Hengrong: "……………"

Lei Laomeng: "…………"

Gongsun Huai Zhi: "…………"

Their gazes stiffly turned to see Mr. Master Wen He, his expression mild and harmless, unperturbed, tossing down a wooden club as thick as a wrist, then calmly facing the crowd, a smile curling slowly at his lips:

"What did you see?"

Ximen Hengrong and the other three stepped back in unison.

Facing the number-one barbecue master of the Western Regions, they shook their heads vigorously:

"No, nothing!"

Mr. Master Wen He tied up the General with a rope and slung him over his shoulder: "This man has slept only one and a half hours per day for the past half-month, because he dislikes the sluggishness after eating full meals; he eats lightly and sparingly."

"Yet he must oversee all affairs of the Western Regions—every minor and major matter passes through him."

"If he continues like this, his untrained body cannot bear his mental strain; it will only drain his root deeper and deeper. When his spirit essence runs low, he'll start consuming his blood—then he'll die prematurely."

"I'm taking him back to rest."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Mr. Master Wen He said: "Although Yuan Zhi is injured, he can still assist in strategy and battle formations." As he carried the man downward, he heard the unconscious General murmur: "... Lord has returned. It's done."

"Held firm…"

A faint warmth appeared on Mr. Master Wen He's face.

"You've been thinking about these things all this time."

"No wonder you look so exhausted."

Mr. Master Wen He unhesitatingly poured the wine from his waist flask into the General's mouth.

Inside was safe Ma Fei San.

Super-Class Seventy-Two Compound Type.

"Sleep well."

Mr. Master Wen He casually tossed the flask aside: "It only induces sleep—it won't harm your body. Rest properly." At that moment, Mr. Master Wen He saw the Nine-Colored Divine Deer appear within Anxi City, and the silver-haired girl walked onto the city wall.

On the city wall stood a massive war drum, inscribed with an array.

It boosted morale and inspired the troops.

The silver-haired girl ascended the wall herself and struck the war drum with the array's precision.

The drum's deep, grim sound echoed throughout Anxi City.

Li Guanyi and the Wolf King exchanged blows, heard the rhythmic drumbeats, felt his spirit soar, raised his battle halberd, and the Nine Cauldrons roared—faintly, a thunderous cauldron sound arose, harmonizing with the drum!

The Nine Cauldrons rang long; the silver-haired girl beat the drum.

Li Guanyi's courage surged; he pointed his halberd forward and said:

"Wolf King, come!"

The Wolf King burst into loud laughter: "Fine! See if you can stop me!"

A fierce battle loomed—the Wolf King's fifty thousand elite troops against Li Guanyi, backed by Anxi City.

The Wolf King, a seasoned general whose Wu Gong had reached its peak, moved with calm ease under the army's martial array.

But Li Guanyi, now in the Nine Cauldrons' enhanced state, with the momentum of the army and the city behind him, was no longer the man he had been.

They clashed fiercely; though the Wolf King surpassed Li Guanyi, he could not instantly defeat or capture him. Li Zhao Wen, General Yue Qianfeng, Yan Xuanji, and Wei Chi Xiong circled the battlefield; the Wolf King repelled several, but when he sought to assault the city, the defenders were already prepared.

With Gongsun Huai Zhi's thunderous roar:

"Fire!!!"

Pan Wanxiu also swung his arm violently; siege mechanisms from within the city rained down like arrows. The Wolf King used his battle array to resist this volley; according to siege tactics, the next move should've been ladders and siege machinery advancing.

The Mo Family's mechanical assaults were fierce, but each volley had a considerable interval.

Yet this critical opening was blocked by Li Guanyi's presence—he could not seize it. The Wolf King had used all his bottom cards, exhausted every ability; he could win, but could not take this boy down yet.

He was stuck. The Wolf King lost his will to fight and intended to withdraw.

But at that moment, Mr. Master Wen He appeared briefly on the wall and shouted loudly:

"Long time no see, Wolf King! After a day of battle, are you hungry?"

"Want some roasted meat?!"

"Ah, iron plate roasted meat—so fragrant! Come, sniff it?"

"So delicious!"

Dozens of soldiers waved giant banana leaves behind the roasting meat, fanning furiously, as if determined to blow every whiff of the aroma straight into the Wolf King's nose.

Or rather, if he weren't certain he'd be sliced apart by the Wolf King,

Mr. Master Wen He would've probably waved a skewer of roasted meat right under the Wolf King's nose.

Li Guanyi opened his mouth.

For a moment, he felt faint.

Even his own men felt that Mr. Master Wen He's methods were truly hellish…

Moreover, is there a follow-up plan to the city-burning operation?

Yu Langwang choked on a mouthful of blood; such a formidable hero had only ever harbored a death wish against Chen Dingye, yet now he added another name to the list and roared: "Yan Daiqing, I will kill you!!!"

"I will kill you!!!"

Yan Daiqing: "…………"

His fists had gone rigid.

He held back, suppressing the urge to confront Yu Langwang and declare he himself was Yan Daiqing, for he knew that if he spoke, Master Wen He would surely reply: "You are the Yan Daiqing of Jiangnan; I am the Yan Daiqing of the Western Regions."

He understood that seemingly harmless man too well.

That man was only harmless in appearance.

Yu Langwang was indeed furious, his rage burning in his heart; after delaying awhile and realizing the city could not be taken—failing to break through the blockade as planned while Li Guanyi was absent—he reluctantly suppressed his fury and prepared to retreat.

But just as he prepared to withdraw, Li Guanyi emerged from the city to engage him, and Yu Langwang could not escape.

Just as he resolved to flee at all costs, a surge of battlefield fury erupted from behind—

The Western Regions were a grand board.

Yu Langwang dashed forward swiftly: if he could take Anxi City, the situation would instantly clear, breaking the encirclement he faced; if he failed, he would be trapped within Anxi City's sphere of influence.

His opponents would not let this opportunity slip!

The famed general of the Ying state, Fifth Divine General He Ruo Qinhu, led fifty thousand troops and had circled around to sever Yu Langwang Chen Fubi's connection with his rear.

They seized the city.

To the flank, the Ying state's famed general, Eighteenth on the Divine General List, Qin Yulong, advanced with thirty thousand troops, holding a defensive posture; on the western front, the Chen state's general, Lu Youxian—whose rank had been steadily rising—arrived.

Upon arrival, he fell silent for a long while, studying the terrain, carefully contemplating.

First, build a city.

Begin constructing a defensive system to cut off the Western Region forces and Yu Langwang's allies.

Such is the nature of overwhelming momentum: even when advantage seems absolute, one misstep brings peril. Yu Langwang chose a perilous strategy; if it failed, he would be bound. Now, in the Western Regions, the grand pattern was set—

He Ruo Qinhu, Qin Yulong, Li Guanyi, General Yue Qianfeng, Lu Youxian.

Five generals among the top thirty.

The Chen state, the Ying state, Jiangnan.

Anxi City's garrison: thirty thousand; He Ruo Qinhu's fifty thousand; Qin Yulong's thirty thousand; Lu Youxian's fifty thousand—altogether encircling Yu Langwang's fifty thousand Canglang Cavalry, sealing off his supply lines, his allies, their might vast and overwhelming.

It seemed as if the combined strength of all nations converged to hunt down and annihilate a single general.

The once toweringly arrogant Yu Langwang was instantly trapped in an ambush from all sides, peril lurking everywhere; momentum surged as forces exchanged messages via falcon-borne letters: Yu Langwang was encircled; Xiao Wuliang mobilized to rescue him, but was blocked.

In an instant, Yu Langwang was cast into a death trap.

He Ruo Qinhu sent a message to Anxi City; after Lu Youxian and Li Guanyi unrolled the scroll, the text was simple and plain, yet radiated a chilling aura—

【Fight Together】

【Kill Yu Langwang Together】!

Li Guanyi set down the letter, his expression calm.

The tide had turned!

?? Please vote for monthly tickets, everyone~