Chapter 503: Return

The garrison commander of Guanyi City, Chu Jingxing, learned of the attack on the city while he was still asleep; his pleasant dream was shattered to pieces, and in his panic he threw on his armor and battle robe, grabbed his spear and bow, and rushed along a small path up to the city walls.

What he saw was the Qin army, fully armed and murderous, its ranks stern and majestic.

In that instant, Chu Jingxing's head was already buzzing.

The Qin army — how could it suddenly appear here?!

Yue Pengwu and the others, weren't they still several hundred li, even a thousand li away? No matter how fast the front advanced, it couldn't possibly move so quickly — in a single night, the great army had pushed forward a full thousand li, driving straight into Ducheng like a blade?!

Impossible, absolutely impossible.

There is simply no such logic.

What's more, the one leading the great army was actually Qin Wang himself.

A heaven-sent strike force, and the sovereign personally leading the troops to anchor the line, personally executing such a dangerous strategy of penetrating deep behind enemy lines — such boldness and heroic ambition, even as an enemy, left Chu Jingxing deeply shaken and moved.

He was, after all, a capable general of his age, and he immediately guessed the general strategic style at work.

"Is this again like when the God of War Jiang Su attacked Chen, or when the Divine Wu Wang Chen Fubi struck Ying — a feint to the east, a strike to the west, where a famed general of the age personally leads a contingent of elites, appearing from an unbelievable place at an unbelievable hour, to hack into the enemy's rear?"

A stratagem like this, succeeding even once, would be enough to be recorded in lavish detail in the annals of history, becoming an example cited by generations of military commanders — yet within these twenty years, three different commanders have actually pulled it off successfully three times.

Each time it was nearly impossible to defend against, extremely risky, and yet extremely effective.

This is a strategy that can only be carried out when a commander's judgment of the situation, his personal valor, and his courage to lead from the front are all brought out to the fullest.

In any other era, anyone who could execute a grand strategy of this caliber would unquestionably be the finest commander under heaven.

But now, three such men have appeared.

And one of them is right out there in front.

Me, fight Qin Wang?!

Chu Jingxing nearly laughed out loud, but even so, he did not immediately give up the fight. Fighting was out of the question — no matter what, he could not withstand the sharp edge of Qin Wang's weapons. Under the circumstances, Chu Jingxing adopted the strategy that best fit the situation.

Hold fast and sally not forth.

At the same time, he released all thirty of his messenger hawks and strange birds.

Every hawk and strange beast carried intelligence.

Guanyi City was not far from Jiangzhou City; there at least remained guards and palace guards of an elite caliber, as well as what had once been Chen's strongest general, and one of the current top ten divine generals, Chen Tianqi — grandson of Chen Wu Di, and the only remaining force the entire Chen kingdom still possessed.

Qin Wang did not intercept them.

He simply let the birds scatter in all directions.

Only after Chu Jingxing had breathed a slight sigh of relief did he realize why Qin Wang had not interfered — because another bird had come down, and on the feathers of its tail were crimson marks like fire, which signified military intelligence of the most urgent level.

He unfolded the slip of paper; within, a few brief words were written.

【Qin strikes our Ducheng; come swiftly to save the king】

Those simple eight words nearly shattered Chu Jingxing's Dao heart to pieces.

Indeed so — Qin Wang was already a famed and fierce general under heaven. When such a commander appeared at Guanyi City, there must surely be another, an equally fierce and valiant divine general, leading troops to Jiangzhou City.

Only, Chen Tianqi was the grandson of Chen Wu Di.

His prime was one hundred and eighty years ago, and he was the last remaining foundation of the present Chen kingdom — in truth, he certainly possessed the command and combat ability of a top-five divine general under heaven. Yet he did not know who, which divine general, would be worthy of leading the Fire Qilin army to go and fight this legendary Chen general.

That was a top divine general under heaven!

A vice general rode forward, leveling his spear on his mount, and shouted loudly: "The defenders of Guanyi City — seeing Qin Wang, Your Majesty, arrive here, why do you not surrender early? Why persist in futile resistance? What is the point of it?!"

Chu Jingxing felt he had a point.

But he would not surrender just like that. He only shouted back loudly: "General, and His Highness Qin Wang — does it mean that a man who serves as general or soldier, who guards his home and defends his country, must cast aside that duty and kowtow in surrender the moment he faces an enemy he cannot defeat?!"

"Under General Lu's command, there is absolutely no such principle!"

"Guanyi City will fight to the last!"

"Our great Chen still has some might left!"

"Do not forget, Your Highness Qin Wang, you yourself once stayed in this city for a period of time — you should also know that the defenses of Guanyi City were personally overseen by the great General Lu Youxian!"

"May the spirit of General Lu Youxian in heaven protect us!"

In Guanyi City there were only three thousand garrison troops, fighting behind the walls. Chu Jingxing thought it through clearly: relying on the city defenses left behind by General Lu Youxian, and the interlocking bolt-crossbows, he could hold out for some time.

Seven years ago, General Lu Youxian had watched helplessly as the Jinwu Guards of that time fled away; thereafter, in grief and regret, he spent three years turning Guanyi City into a configuration that would terrify any fugitive or would-be attacker.

It was a fortress of the highest order.

Chu Jingxing still fought to the death, but Qin Wang's martial might and Wu Gong were simply too overwhelming. Even when the soldiers and officers of Guanyi City battled on to the very end, they could not stem the tide of the times — the bolts fired from the crossbow mechanisms shattered and dissolved in midair.

The roar of the Fire Qilin shook the heavens and the earth. Qin Wang, clad in armor, personally swung the weapon in his hand; ink-colored flowing light took the shape of a half-arc, tearing forward, cleaving even the clouds apart, and a fierce, naked-eye-visible ravine split the earth.

The martial souls of ten thousand heavy cavalry and the momentum of the great military formation erupted forth.

Under the empowerment of such force, the effect of this strike was utterly exaggerated.

The grim half-arc attack fell upon the walls of Guanyi City, striking the foundation of this great city's defensive grand formation — the jade tokens arranged in a special, arcane pattern leapt up in an instant.

The flowing light upon them rose and fell in succession, then all stopped together.

Accompanied by crisp sounds, like tearing silk, the grand formation of Guanyi City was ripped apart. Those thousand formation jade talismans shattered one after another in an unbroken series of crisp sounds — like wind chimes stirred by the breeze when a youth drowses through a summer afternoon, like crushed ice striking the cup of plum-soup, a chain of sounds that was the music of a young man's afternoon dream.

Boom!!!

The entire Guanyi City seemed to tremble.

At this moment, the great sun at the edge of the sky had not yet fully woken, and the waning moon had not yet sunk. The common folk sensed this commotion and panicked. The three thousand soldiers took to the battlefield, but the valor and spirit they had barely mustered shattered beneath that domineering, terrifying strike.

A satellite city of the capital.

A location like this, a strategic choke-point like this, would naturally have defending troops.

But they would not be as powerful as the fierce generals at the frontier passes.

Earlier, when Yue Pengwu and the four great armies had attacked Chen, under the sharp edge of Yue Pengwu's weapons, the elites here had all been drawn away — drawn off to intercept the former divine generals of Great Chen, who were now launching furious counterattacks and a northern campaign.

Normally, to attack a city of a nation —

So long as this city and fortress held fast, reinforcements would always come in time.

But at this level now,

there is no such thing as support left.

Even beside the Ducheng, it has become a true, deserving 【Solitary City】; under such circumstances, three thousand second-tier city-defense troops, despite despair, still upheld their duties.

They fought, resisted, struggled.

And then were defeated.

Even in defeat, this process must have meaning.

The annals recorded this battle in half a day, but in truth, the fighting from start to finish lasted far less than 【half a day】—only a little over an hour; the people were startled awake, rushed home, slammed their doors shut, trembling with fear.

Before chaos could take root,

everything had already settled.

Special soldiers had already entered Yicheng, orderly and calm, beginning to take over its defenses and city fortifications, advancing in five-man combat teams, breaching one sealed government office after another, breaching the family lists inscribed by Master Nan Hanwen.

The yamen runners and private soldiers within these offices had once been boastful and domineering.

But facing a true army forged in the blood of chaotic battlefields, they became like little rabbits, losing all their former arrogance, each one unnaturally obedient; meanwhile, the common folk opened door cracks, saw these soldiers, and found them solemn, disciplined, not harming civilians.

Even when people offered gold and silver, they refused to accept them.

They merely told the people: the situation has not yet fully stabilized; the Qin Wang's Fire Qilin Army is taking control of this city; order remains, but fearing unrest, civilians should return home and stay put.

"The Fire Qilin Army…"

"It's the Qin Wang."

When the people heard these two names, they first felt as if they had fallen into a dream.

Had Yue Pengwu already arrived this quickly?

Yet no rioting, no civil unrest, no panicked civilians fleeing wildly and provoking conflict with the Fire Qilin Army occurred.

Pang Shuiyun's information war, and the Changfeng Lady's propaganda.

The Qin Wang's reputation as a benevolent army was known throughout the land.

Even officials and scholars from Chen and Ying states claimed the Qin Wang was merely putting on a facade, not truly benevolent; yet from Tianqi 11 to Tianqi 16, generation after generation of scholar-officials had come and gone, and the Qin Wang remained unchanged.

His name for benevolence was already known across the realm.

The common folk were not fools.

Nor were they blind.

Temporary confusion, over time, always clears; guided by the Qin Wang's Fire Qilin Army, they returned home, registered their names, and wrote down their past grievances.

The noble families, however, felt panic and tension.

In Yicheng, the spectrum of human life unfolded in turn.

The Xue family—

Xue Changqing, now sixteen, gripped a battle halberd, his brows sharp and spirited, a jade pendant and an eagle-feather ornament hanging from his waist, leading the Xue family's guest knights in preparation for defense.

He had only heard of chaos within the city, rumors of an army approaching; he had always closely followed the Qin Wang's movements, often rejoicing inwardly at Qin Wu's victories.

Now sixteen, he was nearly at the third tier of Wu Gong.

Like Ye Buyi and Zhou Liu's camp of old, he was unquestionably a war general's seed, especially skilled in tactics, archery, and horsemanship; his battle halberd swung with fierce valor.

The young man carried within him a bold, fiery spirit.

He dreamed of leaving home to join the guest knights.

Even if he had to start as a common soldier, he would accept it.

A true man, born in this age, possessing Wu Gong, with his sister, guest knights, uncle-in-law, and grandfather all striving for this chaotic world—could he merely be kept at home? Could he bear it?

Previously, Xue Daoyong had begun seeking a wife for him.

Xue Changqing firmly refused: "The world is not yet settled—how can I think of marriage?"

Xue Daoyong praised him: "You've got the spirit of Brother Li."

Then he beat the boy up.

"You say 'how can I marry?' and they all say 'how can I marry?'—will my Xue family die out? I can't beat the Qin Wang, but can't I beat you?"

Yet even so, he could not change the boy's nature, and so he let it be; now, when others heard of troops attacking, they assumed it was like Ying state—total chaos, with rebels rising in Chen state.

Others were deeply anxious; Xue Changqing, however, remained calm.

Hearing a knock at the door, he raised his brows and called: "Who?!"

As he spoke, he already lifted his halberd.

In the instant he opened the door, he prepared to strike down hard—only to see an outside Captain raise a hand to block his halberd; a chilling aura struck his face, making his bones tremble; he stared closely—and recognized the face.

"Brother Zhou?!!!"

It was Zhou Liu.

Zhou Liu, the rising star of the Fire Qilin Army's younger generation, joined from the Western Regions, endured great battles, captured cities and lands, and recently received the Crimson Dragon Shakes the Nine Realms technique from Prince Ji Yanzhong; now he stood at the peak of the fifth tier.

He could not compare to Fan Qing, who held the sixth tier and commanded an entire route's army.

Nor could he match Ye Buyi, a sixth-tier prodigy so young.

But his ferocity and skill in breaking enemy lines, at only twenty-three, made him a war general's seed of the Fire Qilin Army's youth; he easily captured the moment, laughing: "Hahaha, young Xue, haven't seen you in years—greet me with such enthusiasm?"

"We're not holding up well, hahaha."

Xue Changqing beamed: "Brother Zhou?!"

"How did you get here?"

He was sharp—he instantly realized, eyes widening, shining with brilliance: "The attacking force is the Fire Qilin Army?!"

Zhou Liu smiled: "Yes. The Wang is outside the city."

Xue Changqing froze, mind blank, nearly overwhelmed by the information; after a long moment, he murmured as if in a dream: "You mean… Brother Li… he… he came himself?"

Zhou Liu said: "Yes. Though military doctrine says to concentrate elite forces on the critical point—strike where the enemy must defend, directly seize Jiangzhou—the Wang, our lord, was unusually stubborn, unusually determined to come to Yicheng."

Zhou Liu smiled and said: "It must be deep attachment to a former place."

Xue Changqing froze. He, who never understood hidden meanings, suddenly widened his eyes, turned back with his battle halberd, and shouted: "Sister! Where is my sister!?"

"Sister!!!"

The Xue family suddenly erupted in chaos, noise rising everywhere.

But they could not find Xue Shuangtao.

The spring sun, nearing summer, poured down—pale golden, translucent light slipped through window cracks and gaps between leaves, spilling onto the table, the girl's cheeks and temple hairs, casting patches of golden mottling.

Juan Sect scrolls, blank paper, ink and brush.

Hanging scrolls, intelligence reports like a forest of text, a girl in plain attire lay sprawled atop them, her breath faint, fast asleep.

Yue Pengwu and the four flank armies of the Fire Qilin, wherever they advanced, met no resistance—this was due both to the overwhelming tide of heaven's will, like a river rushing downward, and to the unified will of all ranks, willing to die for the cause.

But beyond this, intelligence was especially crucial.

With warfare raging in all directions, Changfeng Lady channeled intelligence through countless covert methods, pushing Changfeng Lady's capabilities to their limit; she herself, in particular, had grown dangerously weakened, having nearly taken up residence within Changfeng Lady's tower these past days.

Yesterday, overwhelmed by the volume of intelligence scrolls, she worked until deep into the night.

She had intended to rest briefly, but fell into too deep a sleep.

Xue Shuangtao was awakened by the commotion outside; she opened her eyes, still dazed, gripped her sword, walked forward to the window—and froze. Yicheng was still Yicheng.

The prosperous, wealthy, peaceful Yicheng, the city where life had once been easy, was still the same Yicheng where many struggled to breathe—but along both sides of the streets, soldiers clad in ink-black armor now marched at regular intervals.

The armor's design, she knew well.

The girl stood stunned, then heard whispers carried on the wind: "Fire Qilin Army… Qin Wang… personally leading the troops…"

Her mind went suddenly blank, and before she knew it, her body moved on its own—she turned, flung open the door, and the old man outside frowned bitterly: "Oh dear, little girl, did you know? Li Guanyi's boy has attacked…"

"I was genuinely happy."

"But then I remembered—I'm also of the Chen royal lineage. So shouldn't I be less joyful? Look, I use my Chen nation's supreme Wu Gong, the Six Void Four Union Divine Art, to control the muscles of my face."

"Now half my face is happy, half is sad."

"Honoring my ancestors, honoring myself—isn't that…?"

The old man proudly showed off his choice, his Wu Gong, to Xue Shuangtao. He adored this girl, for whenever he spoke of his triumphs, she always paused to listen—even when busy.

Unlike that impatient little brat, Chen Qingyan.

But today seemed different.

Xue Shuangtao's speech quickened; she said earnestly:

"Yes, yes, excellent—both in Wu Gong and in your choice."

"You truly have talent."

"But I have matters to attend to."

"Mr. Chen Chengbi, excuse me!"

Chen Chengbi: "Huh?"

"Huh???"

The next instant, the girl leapt up, her movement fluid, darting past Chen Chengbi, then sprinting away from Chen Qingyan, who held her sword. Chen Chengbi clicked his tongue. "This little girl—how did her movement suddenly improve so much?"

"Practicing secretly? Good, good."

Xue Shuangtao burst outside, hair flying. The street teemed with people: Fire Qilin soldiers, civilians being escorted back, defeated city guards stripped of their armor—all moving toward the city center like a surging tide, shattering old order.

Only the girl in plain robes headed toward the city gate, as if swimming against the current.

Only the girl in plain, simple clothes headed toward the city gate, as if moving against the waves.

"Sorry, please let me through."

The girl's steps were urgent.

Faces flashed before her—men's, women's, old, young—confused, puzzled, some trying to block her, held back by others; a thousand faces, each a fleeting stream.

The girl ran past familiar streets, her shoes nearly brushing the ground; she wore a dark blue, neatly buttoned robe with an outer cloak, and as she ran, her black hair streamed, her sleeves fluttering like dancing butterflies.

The girl ran through the streets she knew so well, her shoes barely touching the ground; she wore a dark-blue, steady-cut jacket with a front opening, covered by an outer robe, and as she ran, her black hair streamed up and her sleeves fluttered like dancing butterflies.

If I'm to meet you, I will run.

The road is short. Time is long.

She sprinted straight to the city wall. Fire Qilin soldiers and city guards parted before her like waves. Her martial skill was no longer weak—but her heart pounded as if it would burst.

She ran all the way to the side of the city wall; the soldiers of the Fire Qilin Army and the city garrison all parted before her like waves. Her Wu Gong was no longer poor, but her heart was pounding as if it would burst.

She ran to the top, finally breathless.

Hands pressed against the battlements, she gasped for air, then lifted her head—the sun had risen. Before her stretched vast, sweeping scenery: clouds tumbling from the sky, transforming into banners, stretching to the horizon.

She pressed both hands against the city wall, gasping for breath, then lifted her head—the sun had risen. Before her eyes lay a vast, open landscape and sky; she saw clouds tumbling down from the heavens, transforming into banners that unfurled as far as the eye could see.

The languid southern breeze, once soft enough to melt the bones of travelers, had been shattered by piercing martial energy.

A thousand armies, ten thousand horses.

A youthful vow.

That night, darkness thick, his halberd raised to the sky, the young hero's face still held boyish innocence, his gaze blazing like fire: "I will return!"

"Xue Shuangtao!"

"Remember—I will come back. Behind me will be a thousand armies. I will become a hero of the world, raise weapons, lead legions, and return!"

"Wait for me!"

The vow and farewell of youth, like a dream—he swore he would become the world's hero and return with legions to find her. Yet even then, the girl's tears had fallen harder, just as they did now.

A thousand armies, arrayed behind. The city's great gates, breached in half a day.

The promises and farewells of youth were like a dream—he said he would become the hero of the entire world and return with countless armies to find her, but at that time, the girl's tears fell even more fiercely, just as they did now.

Countless armies lined up behind him; the fortified cities and passes fell within half a day.

In the prime of his years, weapons clashing and armored horses thundering, his spirit could swallow ten thousand li like a tiger.

A thousand armies, ten thousand warhorses, bold and valiant. At the very front, the Qin Wang royal banner soared to the heavens; beneath the crimson war-banner embroidered with the Fire Qilin, even the dragon-steed was clad in armor. The monarch, robed in ink-black armor with civil and military sleeves trailing down to the clouds, lifted his head, his side-whiskers lifting slightly, his hair bound up with a jade hairpin.

He looked at the woman over there, watching her quietly for a long while.

Then he smiled.

"Young Lady."

The Qin Wang, renowned throughout the realm, wore a smile. Before the battlefield feats of a thousand armies and ten thousand horses, of cities stormed and kingdoms destroyed, he said with a smile:

"I've come back."

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