Chapter 360: Wangbei Academy

Chuan Shu.

Liangshan.

This is the most unfathomable mountain in the vast land of Chuan Shu.

Because it is too vast, and too deep.

The mountains here are also notoriously treacherous, often featuring cliffs and precipices that cause people to meet their untimely deaths. Furthermore, with herds of wild beasts roaming Liangshan, even hunters who risk their lives to hunt often find themselves unable to make it back out.

It can be said that ten Mang Mountains might not even compare to one Liangshan.

Stretching for a thousand miles, with clouds and mist reaching the heavens.

Four Seasons Like Spring, it is like a fairyland.

Outside Liangshan, there is a lake, and upon the surface of the lake, there is a single leaf-like boat.

On this boat, at this moment, sits an old man in a coir raincoat, drifting on the lake and fishing for the sunset.

Just at this moment.

A white crane flies over from the distance in the sky, its wings seemingly stirring up layers of ripples, adding a touch of ethereal charm to this picturesque landscape.

"Eh?"

The old man looks up, lets out a soft exclamation, and then chuckles: "Little White, why are you in such a rush?"

The white crane seems to glance at him with disdain, ignoring him entirely, and continues to fly toward the depths of the mountains.

The old man's expression changes slightly: "Oh my, has something happened?"

He flicks his fishing rod, and the rod actually transforms into a boat oar; the old man stands straight, and the oar does not touch the water, but instead, he fiddles with it casually within the solitary boat.

An incredible thing happens.

The small boat, which was just as calm as could be, suddenly acts like a wild horse gone mad, speeding across the lake... If Liu Zheng were present, he would surely be greatly astonished. The stern of this small boat is actually equipped with something resembling a motor...

The scenery is as beautiful as a painting.

The small boat is as swift as the wind.

It passes through the lake, through a small stream, arrives beneath a karst cave in the mountain, and then, in the blink of an eye, it disappears.

And then.

The next moment, the place where the old man in the coir raincoat appears is a flight of stairs that stretches beyond sight; the bluestone stairs lead all the way up, as if they could reach the heavens, with no end in sight. The steep angle makes one look up in awe. Beside the stairs are all sorts of strange-looking trees, mechanisms, birds, and beasts...

Mist swirls about, and occasionally the sound of morning bells and evening drums rings out, though one cannot tell where they originate.

"Character Jia, file seven, encounter horizontal thirteen, kill five, leave two, Small Virtue!"

The old man in the coir raincoat climbs the stairs step by step, listening to this familiar voice ringing out leisurely on the stairs and in his own ears.

"Character Bing, horizontal eight, all three eyes lost, death, Small Virtue!"

"Character Ding..."

The old man listens as he walks. Since its founding, the Academy has used the world as a chessboard and everyone as a chess piece; these pieces also include the members of the Academy.

Success and failure are determined by virtue and vice, and rank is determined by battle records.

Every day, whatever the Academy members walking in the world do, how much virtue they have accumulated, and how much karma they have created, is reported back truthfully. If there is anyone guilty of a Great Evil, they will certainly be hunted down by the Academy. If one accumulates enough Small Virtue, they can attain a higher status in the Academy, obtain more resources, and gain status in the secular world.

Although he looks like a very old fellow, his feet seem to have wind beneath them as he walks up these steep stairs.

"Character Wu..."

"Great Evil!"

Suddenly.

Hearing this "Great Evil" ring out in the haze, the old man's expression changes drastically.

Great Evil?

How many years has it been since a Great Evil appeared in this Academy?

Hearing this, his pace quickens significantly.

Who would have thought.

The next sentence makes not only him, but everyone in all of Liangshan, gasp in shock.

"Character Wu, horizontal nine, a casual move, creating a ko, Great Evil!"

Boom!

The old man nearly misses a step, a look of horror appearing on his face.

Great Evil?

Two Great Evils in a row?

And this second Great Evil was a casual move, creating a ko?

What does this mean?

This means that this Academy member has actually revealed their identity to people in the outside world! The meaning of "creating a ko" is to place a piece within the enemy's formation in hopes of leaving behind more "ko-materials" for one's own side to fight for later. But it is easy to encounter a "ko-struggle" and end up in total defeat!

Therefore.

Since its founding, the Academy has always forbidden the method of creating a ko. Thus, although legends of Wangbei Academy circulate in the outside world, no one knows who the Wangbei-ers are.

People understand the principle that pulling one hair affects the whole body.

Something has happened!

Something big has happened!

The old man suddenly panics and begins to scramble up.

The clouds and mist of the entire Liangshan seem to dissipate along with these two cries of "Great Evil."

At this moment, the true face of the Wangbei Academy on Liangshan is finally exposed. On this mountain, thatched cottages are scattered everywhere, dotting the lush greenery, and within the hidden patterns, the Great Dao is concealed.

Two Great Evils; everyone cannot help but walk toward the top of the stairs.

"What did you say?"

Qin Zhangfeng trembled all over, looking at Pei Yanran in disbelief.

Actually.

Before this, he had indeed felt a grudge in his heart because Pei Yanran was from Wangbei Academy. But... at this moment... she had actually exposed her own identity and offered a strategy because she wanted to save the common people of Jiangzhou?

Offering a strategy would have been one thing.

But she had actually committed a great taboo of that damned Academy? And would have to suffer punishment?

Upon hearing this, Qin Zhangfeng's opinion of Pei Yanran instantly vanished, followed immediately by a heart full of being moved.

At this moment in his eyes, Pei Yanran was actually so beautiful, so pure.

Pei Yanran began to smile, her eyes like crescent moons, giggling: "You fool, what does that matter? Yanran was able to enter Wangbei Academy, so she can also leave it!"

"No..."

Qin Zhangfeng's heart suddenly began to ache.

Hearing her say this, by exposing her identity like this, she would definitely have to suffer a very terrible punishment. Perhaps, she might even die? Was she doing this for him? Was she doing this for the common people of Jiangzhou?

Qin Zhangfeng's heart was suddenly in a state of chaos.

Why had he gone and misunderstood a woman like this?

"Yanran..."

Pei Yanran smiled charmingly, covering Qin Zhangfeng's lips with her slender hand, and said softly: "Qin Dage, Yanran's affairs are of no consequence; tomorrow's great battle is the key. Whether Chuan Shu can be stable, whether Jiangzhou can be retaken—Qin Dage is a great man, you should prioritize the country, shouldn't you?"

"Yanran..."

Qin Zhangfeng held Pei Yanran tightly in his arms, speechless and choked with emotion.

Pei Yanran hugged him back, smiling sweetly, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

The next day.

This world-renowned Battle of Mang Mountain officially began.

The 150,000-strong Shu Army lined up outside the mountain, their shouting and clamor filling the sky.

At the very beginning, the Nanman Army did not respond to the challenge.

But this Agutuo was also a guy with a screw loose, completely unable to listen to others' insults. The Shu Army had only been cursing for half a day, and he could no longer hold back.

"Unreasonable, simply unreasonable! Do they really think we are made of mud?"

Agutuo rose in anger, wanting to grab his great blade and lead his troops to kill.

That Mr. Huang cursed inwardly, but patiently said aloud: "Great King, Great King, calm your temper; this is the enemy's tactic to lure us out! Today, we must absolutely not send out troops! As the saying goes, at the first drum the spirit is aroused, at the second it wanes, at the third it..."

Upon hearing this, Agutuo felt it made sense, so he suppressed his anger and sat back down.

Who would have known.

They had only just finished a pot of wine when the cursing started again outside.

"Cowards!"

"Disgrace to the Barbarians!"

"Like a woman!"

Agutuo was like a fire being lit again; he jumped up, shouting "Ah, ah, ah": "These weak Han people, they bully me too much, they bully me too much!"

"Great King, Great King..."

Mr. Huang still wanted to persuade him.

A Nanman Military Advisor nearby snorted coldly: "Mr. Huang, our army is stationed at Mang Mountain to lure the snake out of its hole. Why are we afraid now that they have come? Taking advantage of the Shu Army being scattered to destroy them one by one is the King's Way!"

"That's right, Great King, this is truly a great opportunity for us that we must not miss!"

"If the Shu Army concentrates their forces to attack tomorrow, it will be very difficult for us."

Others also spoke up one after another.

Mr. Huang was furious: "Short-sighted fools, short-sighted fools! This Shu Army is clearly scattering on purpose, intending to observe the location of our main camp... You, you... Great King, sending troops now will definitely mean falling into their trap! Great King must think three times before acting!"

Mang Mountain is very large, which was originally an advantage.

If the Nanman Army took the initiative to attack now, it was very likely that they would expose their location.

It would be better to wait and see; that is the best policy. Occupying Mang Mountain, they were originally in the position of initiative; the Shu Army would definitely not dare to advance a single step rashly.

Mr. Huang's thinking was not wrong.

However...

As a man from Zhongyuan, he still underestimated the stubbornness of these Barbarians.

One of the Nanman generals, who had already found this effeminate Mr. Huang an eyesore, sneered coldly at this moment: "Great King, give me three thousand soldiers and horses. I will detour from the flank, and with my Dianzhou warriors, we will definitely not let them grasp our movements! If there is the slightest mishap, I alone will die, and I will never drag down the army! That is better than staying here and being insulted at will!"

"You, you, you..."

Mr. Huang was so angry he was about to vomit blood.

Who would have thought, these words hit the nail on the head for Agutuo, who slapped his thigh: "Good! Camel is a great general under my command, possessing the courage of ten thousand men; this is feasible!"

"Gather three thousand soldiers and horses, and go win back some prestige!"

"Yes!"

Camel gave Mr. Huang a mocking look, then picked up his Giant Axe and galloped away.

"This..."

Mr. Huang felt a wave of sorrow in his heart.

At this time, he could only hope that this Camel could really come and go like the wind, and could only hope that there were no such formidable figures among the Shu Army.

Camel immediately led three thousand soldiers and horses and set off for the Northwest corner of Mang Mountain.

At this moment.

The great army on Qin Zhangfeng's side had long been poised and ready.

In fact, for such a great battle, they had long since erected watchtowers everywhere overnight.

Rising early in the morning, the great army began to curse and challenge the enemy, and when they grew tired, they would swap in a new group. It must be said, although the soldiers were quite scattered, when these voices were combined, they still circled Mang Mountain several times, creating an astonishing momentum.

Added to the war drums clamoring to the heavens, the imposing aura was truly brought out.

Just at this moment.

Suddenly, from the watchtower at the Northwest corner, a whistle sounded.

Three long, two short...

The soldiers on this side all acted as if facing a formidable enemy.

From East to West, and then the Northwest!

Along the way, birds flew up in all directions.

Following closely behind.

The watchtower at the Southwest corner also sounded a whistle at the same time.

Four long, three short!

In the Southwest direction, the echoes appeared abnormal.

At the Southeast corner, the response was normal.

At the Northeast corner, footsteps and the clashing of weapons were gradually heard, and they were moving further away.

Qin Zhangfeng had long been waiting for these messages at this time, and the adjutant scribe beside him quickly recorded these fragmented pieces of information. For the first time, he had basically calculated the general direction of the Southern Barbarian army's main camp.

"Three thousand Flying Guards, reinforce the Northwest corner!"

Qin Zhangfeng gave the order immediately.

"Yes!"

The so-called Flying Guards were not soldiers wearing a Glider, but the free troops within this battle formation! Maintaining high mobility, capable of reinforcing any corner at any time, these three thousand Flying Guards were all Liangzhou Elite Cavalry, who fought with ease in the mountains.

Once the order was issued, Qin Zhangfeng smiled faintly.

I am not afraid that you cannot hold back.

I am only afraid that you will not come out!

Once you come out, I will beat you to death!

As long as I beat you to death, I am not afraid that you will not be able to hold back and have more people come out...