Chapter 470: The Wind of the Qin Wang, Blazing Through the Vast Sky

Dou De stared at the king in his ink-black battle robe, silent for a long while, not knowing what to say; his sworn brother Shan Xiong, as if sensing his thoughts, merely said: "How many heroes there are in this world."

The mighty and martial Wang Zhi, who opened the world with his own body.

Jiang Wanxiang, aged but composed, still possessed the spirit to conquer the world.

Even now, the Qin Wang, who came alone, wielding his battle halberd, personally to greet them, was no different—though the old generation of heroes had faded from contention, the younger generation's spirit was no weaker.

Li Guanyi swept his sleeve, shaking off the bloodstains, and stepped forward to the group, saying: "General Yue's arrival is timely—I was considering pushing further ahead, but feared leaving here might draw a large army to encircle and blockade this place, which would make things worse, so I chose to hold here."

He spoke lightly, yet in a military formation, holding the rear alone was an act of extraordinary bravery, demanding immense pressure and danger—especially when done by a reigning monarch.

Who had ever seen such conduct?

Niu Wei and others were at a loss for words; their usual boldness now turned halting. Only Yue Pengwu exhaled slowly, his expression solemn: "This place is dangerous. You, a prince of royal blood, came here—if I were a man of Ying State, I would send a massive army to surround and crush you!"

"How could you take such a risk?!"

Li Guanyi merely smiled: "I've always been like this. General Yue knows—it's not the first time."

Yue Pengwu fell silent.

Li Guanyi then turned serious: "Besides, I invited you all here. Am I to watch you risk your lives while I wait safely behind, then host a banquet to comfort you when you finally arrive?"

"How could I sit in comfort while you fight for your lives?!"

Li Guanyi bowed slightly, smiling in the manner of a martial wanderer: "Besides, I am merely a scholar from Zhongzhou, a man of the rivers and lakes, disciple of Master Zu Wenyuan, student of Master Wang Tong—my name is Li Youshi."

"Gentlemen, please!"

The many martial heroes bowed in return, yet their movements and speech remained stiff, unable to achieve true ease and composure.

The Mohist elder Guan Shier clucked in wonder. Li Guanyi smiled: "Elder Guan, long time no see—you still look spirited." Guan Shier laughed heartily: "The world is restless, trouble everywhere—I old man wanders with my sword, stirring up fights and healing people. With things to do, one doesn't grow old."

Guan Shier looked at the Qin Wang before him, yet saw clearly the boy who once dared to storm the Ghost Market alone. With mixed emotions, he sighed:

"It's you…"

"In these four or five years, you haven't changed much!"

Li Guanyi laughed: "I have changed—I've grown taller, and my Wu Gong is stronger."

Guan Shier chuckled: "Fair enough."

He paused, then asked casually: "But do you remember the child I saved for you back then?" The Qin Wang replied: "Of course I remember."

The Mohist elder froze.

The Qin Wang asked: "Has she lived well?"

"Losing an arm must have been hard."

"I recall I carved a flower on her mechanical arm back then? Hmm, I was young then, my carving was poor—I hope she didn't mind. If she did, she could scrape it off."

The Qin Wang seemed slightly embarrassed by his youthful actions.

He smiled with a touch of apology and awkwardness. The Mohist elder, watching this general who ruled ten thousand li and was famed across the land, still worried over a person from the past, suddenly felt a surge of joy—he wanted wine. He laughed loudly: "She's doing splendidly!"

"She learned medicine. Now she teaches children to read and write in a town, and treats their illnesses too—every day is good."

The Qin Wang's smile was warm and radiant: "That's wonderful."

Dou De, silently observing the Qin Wang, sighed to Shan Xiong beside him: "I've long heard of the Qin Wang's name—today's sight proves it's no exaggeration."

"In this age of competing heroes, none compare to the Qin Wang."

Li Guanyi raised his gaze: "Who are these?"

Yue Pengwu introduced each one. Li Guanyi acknowledged them all. When he came to these two, he pointed to the broad-shouldered, imposing man: "This man is Shan Xiong, from Caozhou. He wields a horse spear with unmatched bravery, known as the Flying General."

Shan Xiong, relaxed and graceful, smiled: "I've long heard of the Qin Wang's boldness. Today's meeting proves it's beyond ordinary. Shan Xiong is in awe."

Yue Pengwu then pointed to the stern, imposing man in the center: "This is Dou De, from Beizhou. He masters heavy weapons—swords, blades, staves, clubs—he is proficient in all."

Dou De bowed, calmly saying: "I once had the fortune to be instructed by the Divine Martial King. Back then, I wished to meet the Qin Wang, but fate denied me. Today's meeting makes this journey worthwhile."

Li Guanyi laughed: "No need for formalities. Come, all of you."

"To Jiangnan—I'll host you, wash away your dust and fatigue."

Niu Wei could now see the Qin Wang's bold nature, and slowly relaxed his restraint, laughing heartily:

"Good! Good! I've long wanted to taste a king's fine wine and food!"

"Heh, this time we're getting a free ride."

The Qin Wang, who had just drunk a bowl of duck blood vermicelli soup by a roadside bench in the rain, kept his expression unchanged, grinning proudly:

"You'll be surprised."

"But if you want fine wine, I've got fine wine for you all!"

As the group moved to act, a thunderous sound rolled from behind, causing everyone to instinctively tense, gripping their weapons tightly—even their mounts stirred restlessly under the oppressive aura.

Yue Pengwu lifted his gaze. The air rippled. A golden-winged great roc's spiritual form appeared behind him, coldly watching ahead. Yue Pengwu could plainly see the nearly solidified martial battlefield aura, and said slowly:

"Cavalry. Large army. It seems the fleeing troops drew them here."

"Fleeing troops?"

Dou De blinked, suddenly recalling the troop they'd encountered earlier—back then, they'd assumed it was an ambush, making them tense. Now it was clear: they were fleeing troops…

If they were fleeing troops—wait!

Dou De stared at the Qin Wang over there, his heart shaken.

…Did the Qin Wang, alone, slaughter them all?

Alone, he breached the pass. Alone, he held the line.

The third greatest general of this age—the Qin Wang, the Heavenly Strategy Supreme General.

Yue Pengwu observed the martial battlefield aura: "This time, it seems a large army is coming."

"Hmm…"

The martial wanderers tensed. Unlike Yue Qianfeng, who once stormed a city alone with calm boldness, they could not match such composure.

Yue Qianfeng was, after all, the South's supreme infantry champion—the peak among peaks. These men's martial arts fell far short of his—but their inner fervor burned no less.

The sound of warhorses thundered like rolling lightning, stirring up swirling clouds that surged toward the sky.

The crowd formed ranks, each holding weapons in tense standoff, gazing far off as the vast army surged forward like a southern tide. Li Guanyi rode his divine warhorse forward, weapon in hand, stepping out from among them to stand calmly at the front.

Niu Wei was about to shout a warning to the Qin Wang.

But in an instant, the vast cavalry, charging like a thunderous tidal wave, suddenly reined in—the line of thunderous charge halted abruptly just dozens of zhang before the Qin Wang.

Extreme motion turned instantly to absolute stillness.

This sudden shift froze breaths; countless outlaws felt their hearts pound wildly, sweat soaking their palms around their weapons.

Dead silence.

The dust and airwaves from the cavalry's high-speed charge surged forward; the warhorses shifted their heads uneasily. The Qin Wang's ink-black sleeves fluttered; beneath their wide sleeves, his hand gripped a dark-gold divine weapon, jade hairpin holding his hair, calm and composed.

Though alone, standing before a thousand troops and ten thousand horses, his aura remained unyielding.

Both sides stood locked in standoff; the heroes of the martial world watched this scene, holding their breath.

The leading general stared fixedly at the Qin Wang ahead, gripping his weapon tightly. Around him, captains and officers either narrowed their pupils or breathed heavily, hearts pounding wildly. The Qin Wang had only ruled the realm five years, yet he won every battle, captured every city.

Faintly, he already bore the aura of an invincible war god.

Reputation, too, is a thousand troops and ten thousand horses!

Li Guanyi's divine steed took one step forward; the army's atmosphere tightened instantly. The leading general gritted his teeth, raised his weapon, and shouted: "Your Highness, Qin Wang! Today you enter our nation's territory, injure our generals, and assault our cities—what is your purpose?!"

Li Guanyi replied calmly: "I merely came to meet someone. You are merely blocking my path."

Threatening words—who can't say them?

The general fell silent.

Li Guanyi gripped his weapon, slowly raising it. The dark-gold divine weapon, the Tiger Roars Heaven Halberd, pointed at the thousand troops and ten thousand horses. His brow was calm; behind him, the void rippled, golden-red scales swirling, a low tiger's roar mingling with the clang of steel, forming an indescribable aura:

"Do you intend to stand against me?"

His calm words fell.

A thousand troops and ten thousand horses!

No one dared answer.

The general's heart pounded wildly. He had intended to roar back—so what if we're enemies? —but his reason, even his body's instinct, restrained him from this reckless act of heroism. The words were already forming on his tongue, yet his mouth felt nailed shut, unable to open, let alone speak.

Li Guanyi said calmly: "Of course…"

"I have no intention of waging war against Ying State now. I came here merely to hear that the Great Emperor Chi Di of Zhongzhou has had a daughter born, and I am passing through to pay my respects."

The Qin Wang offered an exit, avoiding immediate escalation.

The general exhaled, silent for a long while, then said: "If you wish to reach Zhongzhou, why not take the waterway? Why come here…?" But he received no reply. He guessed the Qin Wang intended to meet Yue Pengwu, had no desire to fight here—and gained confidence:

"Then, Your Majesty, will you turn back?"

The heroes of the martial world collectively exhaled.

Cold sweat had soaked their backs; now they knew the crisis was over. Even if Ying State's army caught them at last, they had at least saved their lives.

Only Yue Pengwu, Dou De, and Shan Xiong understood the shift in momentum and destiny.

Dou De and Shan Xiong exchanged glances: if the Qin Wang chose to retreat now, his aura would be crushed. The enemy would know no reinforcements lay behind—and might dare charge once more.

They could then write in battle reports and histories: the Qin Wang invaded but was driven back.

And proclaim it to the world.

Yue Pengwu gripped his Lique Divine Spear, preparing to step forward beside Li Guanyi. Dou De and Shan Xiong exchanged another glance. Shan Xiong used secret transmission to whisper: "The Art of War says: 'The commander of an army may be seized.' They're trying to crush the Qin Wang's aura here."

"Once the Qin Wang retreats, they'll know no reinforcements are behind."

"Then the situation may still change."

Dou De said: "We've escorted Brother Yue this far. Now that he faces this, we cannot stand idle—we must lend a hand."

Shan Xiong nodded. Ahead, the thousand troops and ten thousand horses waved banners and beat drums; among them stood renowned generals. Even if their Wu Gong was no weaker than the enemy officers—perhaps even stronger—on the battlefield, a renowned general commanding a formation, with battle-spirit bolstering the army's momentum, could not be challenged even by a Master.

Ten thousand troops ahead, armored in iron, spears gleaming, with the momentum of a military soul.

If they entered it, they could not escape unscathed.

Shan Xiong fell silent, then said: "Brother, with only you and me left, what can we do?"

Dou De remained silent, then answered: "A true man walks between heaven and earth. Success or failure, life or death, righteousness and loyalty—ultimately, it's just you and I walking side by side, lending a hand!"

Shan Xiong said: "Yes."

Together, they spurred their horses forward, weapons in hand, their spiritual forms rising and swirling. In this chaotic age, these former heroes of the martial world now stepped into the tide of the realm. Though mighty in their own right, their hearts still held the spirit of the knight-errant.

Facing ten thousand troops, there was no other way.

At that moment, Li Guanyi spoke slowly, calmly, each word distinct:

"Of course not."

Both sides were startled, confused.

Li Guanyi raised his weapon, pointing it at the thousand troops and ten thousand horses. His wrist twitched slightly; the blade of the Tiger Roars Heaven Halberd trembled, emitting a low, deadly hum. Li Guanyi said calmly: "Why return? Is Ying State not a vassal of Emperor Chi Di?"

"You still must pass through Ying. You've arrived just in time."

"You shall clear the way for me."

The Ying State general's thoughts froze. Niu Wei and the heroes of the martial world were stunned, unable to believe their ears. They too called themselves heroes of the martial world, proud of their boldness and freedom—when young, they'd wielded weapons against mountain bandits.

But the boldness and unrestrained spirit of the martial world had never been this vast.

Never had it been this majestic.

Dou De's expression froze. Shan Xiong's pupils contracted.

All fell silent as they watched the Qin Wang truly spur his horse forward. The divine steed's hooves trod slowly, deliberately, upon the battlefield, producing a chilling sound. Unconsciously, everyone's heartbeat synced with it. The Qin Wang's chilling composure extinguished the will of the enemy general to fight—beneath the pressure of the Third Greatest General of the Realm, beneath this overwhelming, mountain-like advance, that will vanished.

Dou De and the others watched silently as the thunderous army, its battle-spirit rising like clouds, parted before a single man.

Like waves parting before a blade, the aura was immense.

A completely different aura from the gentle, kind knight he had been moments before—his dignity radiated outward. Niu Wei, Dou De, Elder Guan Shier, and Shan Xiong watched in silence as the black clouds fully parted. The composure and bearing of a founding monarch—he swept his sleeves like clouds, calmly walking into the enemy ranks, while the army split apart. In this wordless solemnity, the Qin Wang suddenly halted.

He sidestepped before the vast army, its surge like a tidal wave parting before him like a chasm, then turned his head to look back.

Everything was like an ancient legend.

Niu Wei and the others fell silent, gazing at the banners churning behind the King.

It was truly a strange feeling—behind the young Qin Wang, even the enemy army seemed to become his own troops, clustering around him; then the Qin Wang raised his hand and made a casual gesture toward them, like a banner, like the heavy clouds hanging from the heavens, saying: "The road ahead is not far; there are countless cups of fine wine. Will you join me?"

"No need to worry, relax."

The Qin Wang said softly: "I come to clear the path for you all."

Niu Wei and the others froze inside, then an indescribable feeling exploded suddenly in their hearts—with a boom—it surged so powerfully their bodies trembled slightly, their blood seemed to boil—not the usual kind, not the kind that made them charge ahead for their king or generals, not them serving as vanguard, but the opposite.

It is not you who charge and die for the King.

The King charges ahead!

The King clears the path ahead!

Even the rough heroes of the Jianghu understood what this meant.

The lingering aura and legends of the Red Emperor of eight hundred years past still echoed in the sky; three hundred years of strife and chaos remained an age where ambition and ideals clashed, an era when scholars died for those who understood them.

Today's treatment fell like a sharp blade.

Their breathing grew heavy; though they had only just met him, they felt an impulse to willingly fight and die for this man. Niu Wei grinned and said: "By the order of the Qin Wang!" And so these rough heroes moved forward, clustering behind the Qin Wang. Dou De remained silent for a long while, his large hand clenched tightly, then slowly unclenched—this release carried a quiet, wordless weight.

Even this young, brave, gifted Jianghu hero felt a sense of helplessness.

Divine Martial King, is this the future you saw?

Such grandeur…

Shan Xiong keenly noticed his brother's emotional shift; unlike the solemn and valiant Dou De, Shan Xiong balanced courage and wisdom equally. He wanted to tell his sworn brother not to worry—that even with the spirit of a hero, one might still lack the vision and breadth to accomplish great deeds—but now was not the time to say such things. Instead, he loudly praised, smiling at Dou De:

"How bold! How magnificent, Brother! Since the Qin Wang has invited us, if we don't go, won't we lose face?"

"What are you still standing around for?!"

"You're right."

Dou De steadied his spirit, gave a slight nod, and spurred his horse forward. He and Shan Xiong—one solemn and imposing, the other smiling and relaxed—maintained their composure before the ten thousand troops, clearly men of the age's great generals. But as Shan Xiong passed, the Qin Wang suddenly chuckled and spoke to him: "Master Shan just said, 'The commander of an army may be taken away.'"

Dou De's movement halted.

He felt a faint pang of regret and embarrassment.

To speak of another's situation behind their back was never truly upright; to have it brought up to their face was even more awkward.

But Shan Xiong was no ordinary man—he merely smiled calmly: "That was merely my own thought. What insight does the Qin Wang offer?"

The Qin Wang smiled: "Insight? Not quite."

"That phrase is excellent."

"But it should be followed by one more."

Shan Xiong was startled: "Oh?"

The Qin Wang flicked his whip and said calmly: "The commander of an army may be taken away—but not the spirit of a common man."

Not the spirit of a common man may be taken away?

Shan Xiong murmured the phrase, savoring it.

The Qin Wang raised his hand and pointed far off. Shan Xiong instinctively looked up, following the direction of the Qin Wang's finger.

Ten thousand troops, their aura like clouds, vast and heroic, the bold aspirations of men.

All the strife of the world, the grandeur of the heroes—now laid bare before his eyes.

The Qin Wang smiled: "Did what you saw today stir your spirit?"

Ripples surged endlessly in Shan Xiong's eyes.

His once-calm, heroic heart beat faster than he could control.

The Qin Wang laughed loudly, composed and unhurried, spurred his horse forward. Yue Pengwu and Li Guanyi rode side by side, passing through the surrounding ten thousand troops. Yue Pengwu felt the generals' hostility and fear—wanting to charge and fight, yet terrified, hesitant; without a necessary reason to fight, and with the Qin Wang offering them a way out, they had no desire to risk their rations against the Third Heavenly General of the world.

Yue Pengwu said slowly: "You gave them an escape route by invoking the prestige of Zhongzhou and the authority of the Heavenly Strategy General over all armies—but what you've done today is still rather risky."

Li Guanyi feigned ignorance: "I truly want to go to Zhongzhou, so it's not risky."

"It's where I was going anyway—how can that be risky?"

"Not risky at all."

Yue Pengwu frowned: "What's going on?"

Li Guanyi smiled softly: "A good friend's child has been born. I thought I'd go see."

"Also, something very important and precious has been left there for a long time."

Li Guanyi lightly stroked the Tiger Roar Heaven Battle Spear in his hand and said:

"This journey to Zhongzhou is just right."

"To retrieve that thing."

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