The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 467 Let's see who the hero is today (Part 8)
On the banks of a tributary of the Luan River in the afternoon, the stench of blood was so strong it was almost unbearable.

The deafening roar and the shrill scream of the qi tearing through the air had not yet completely dissipated when the burly figure wrapped in a wide black robe, after a brief pause in his gray-white pupils, once again unleashed an even more ferocious and deathly aura. He took another step forward, his feet sinking deep into the blood-red earth, and the gray-blue qi, like a boiling tide, once again swept towards Zhu Youwen and Li Maozhen, who had just stood still.

The air was violently torn apart, emitting a shrill scream that made your eardrums ache.

"Li Maozhen, let me have a private meeting with him!"

Zhu Youwen's red beard bristled, his tiger eyes flashed red light, and although the Nine Netherworld Profound Heavenly Fiend Qi in his body was still churning from the previous attack, his fighting spirit and ferocity were completely ignited.

He let out a wild laugh, and his murderous aura surged once more like a black dragon. Without dodging or evading, his palms, enveloped in a chilling, tearing aura, fiercely met the God of War head-on. Wherever his palms passed, deep furrows were plowed into the ground, and withered grass instantly turned to ash.

A dull, resounding crash, like the pounding of a giant log, exploded out.

The ghostly palm collided fiercely with the gray-blue aura, and visible streams of light spread wildly, tearing up the ground. Zhu Youwen groaned, staggering back several steps before finally regaining his footing, a trickle of crimson blood winding down the corner of his mouth.

In contrast, the war god merely swayed slightly, the ground beneath his feet cracked, before taking another step forward with unwavering stability, his lifeless gray-white eyes continuing to lock onto his target.

On the other side, Li Maozhen seized the opportunity to leap out, the broken sword in his hand humming, the Purple Cloud Sword Qi flowing erratically, and his heterochromatic eyes flashing with cold light.

Facing this seemingly inexhaustible warrior who seemed to know no pain, he appeared to know how to deal with him. His figure was as elusive as a ghost, and he pushed his Illusionary Sound Technique to its limit, his sword tip pointing directly at the subtle points of the warrior's joints and the flow of Qi.

But this war god was clearly no ordinary being. Each time the sword energy collided with the gray-blue death energy, it only produced a piercing sound of metal rubbing against metal. The purple light and gray-blue light intertwined and annihilated each other, and the violent aftershocks shredded all the grass, trees and rocks within a ten-foot radius.

As soon as the three clashed, the area where they fought once again became a vortex. Ordinary soldiers had already kept their distance, and even seasoned veterans who got close were all shaken by the dissipating energy, causing their blood to rush back and blood to spill from their mouths and noses.

In the Jin army ranks, Xia Luqi, Li Jian, and others seized the opportunity to catch their breath, roaring as they rallied their troops to reinforce the defenses of the hill where Li Cunxu was located. Watching the three men fight, everyone's faces were filled with inexplicable horror, and everyone's worldview seemed to be constantly being reshaped.

"Yuan Xingqin, take Wang Yanzhang away."

Zhu Youwen turned around and roared. Taking advantage of the moment when the God of War was restrained by Li Maozhen, he pounced again, unleashing both palms. Thick, ink-like baleful energy transformed into two roaring black dragons, tightly coiling around the God of War, attempting to pin him firmly to the spot. He completely disregarded his own wide-open defenses, adopting a ferocious fighting style that was entirely about trading his life for his own.

Yuan Xingqin, who was fighting Shi Jiantang, witnessed all of this and made a decisive decision. He immediately ordered his men to join forces and begin to charge eastward to break through the enemy lines.

Wang Yanzhang was covered in blood and was exhausted. His internal strength was almost completely depleted, but he still led his remaining troops westward to coordinate with Yuan Xingqin's troops. The two sides quickly joined forces, broke through Shi Jiantang's left wing cavalry, bypassed his infantry formation, and rushed eastward without hesitation.

Regardless, Li Cunxu still held an absolute numerical advantage. Since Zhu Youwen and Li Maozhen failed to behead him, there was no need to continue the battle.

On a slightly higher hill beside the river bend, Li Cunxu sat on his horse, his face showing a mixture of joy and anger. Wang Yanzhang's troops were already decimated, with only a few hundred riders remaining. However, Yuan Xingqin's two thousand riders had managed to break through the enemy lines with Li Maozhen, and their losses were not significant. With Li Cunxu's participation, it would be even more difficult to defeat Wang Yanzhang's troops with their exhausted forces.

After several days of planning and continuous battles, resulting in thousands of casualties, all efforts were in vain.

"Your Highness, please do not be discouraged. This battle has finally opened up the passage to the east. As long as it is enough to support Grand Commandant Xue Hou and Yelü Lage, it is not a loss..." Seeing that Jing Xinmo, who was pale and seemed to have exhausted his energy, hurriedly comforted him.

Li Cunxu ignored Jingxinmo's words, his gaze fixed sharply on the latter, but then swept over his left and right.

Around them, Xia Luqi's shoulder armor was shattered, and a deep wound on his chest, revealing bone, was still bleeding. He leaned on a door panel and a large sword, panting heavily. Li Jian's helmet was missing, his hair was disheveled, and half of his face was covered in blood. The young Liu Zhiyuan was even more pale, and his hand holding the sword trembled slightly, but the fact that he had survived Li Maozhen's attack showed that his potential was limitless.

The series of fierce battles from this morning to the afternoon, coupled with the individual charges of Zhu Youwen and Li Maozhen, resulted in the deaths of more than twenty generals and officers in the Jin army. Even Li Cunxu's personal guard, the Yi'er Army, suffered some losses, not to mention the Crow Army, which suffered at least a thousand casualties in order to stop Zhu and Li.

“Mirror Heart Demon.” Li Cunxu remained silent for a moment before raising his hand and pointing to the war god in the distance, who was fighting two opponents at once and whose ferocity was overwhelming. The inexplicable tremor deep in his bloodline just now made his gaze towards Mirror Heart Demon clouded with suspicion, and killing intent was clearly intertwined within it.

"You'll probably have to give me an explanation about it."

Mirror Heart Demon trembled and immediately fell off his horse, kneeling on the cold mud. He then held a strangely shaped black box, neither gold nor wood, covered with intricate runes, in his hands. Black energy permeated the box, and a serpentine creature was vaguely coiled within it, its head held high and motionless, facing the direction of the God of War.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger. This servant deserves to die. However, this item was definitely not something this servant kept for himself..."

The demon in the mirror kept his head bowed low, and his voice was filled with extreme fear.

“Your Highness is wise. This item is a Gu artifact from the Twelve Caves of Raojiang, called the God of War Altar. That weapon, which rivals the Ghost King and the King of Qi, is commonly known as the God of War. This item does not belong to this humble servant. It was actually a deal made several years ago by the late King with the Witch King of Raojiang and that Bad Commander, in order to protect the eternal foundation of our Jin Kingdom.”

He quickened his pace, carefully choosing his words: "At that time, the world was in turmoil. Xiao Yan rose to power in Bianliang, laying out his plans in the court and the martial world, and acquiring the Illusionary Sound Pavilion and the Xuanming Sect. The late king, with foresight, sent Li Cunren, one of the Thirteen Protectors, to secretly contact the Bad Commander. The two agreed to each contribute a portion of their original power to jointly forge this God of War. The late king's contribution was the essence of his Supreme Qiankun Skill from his prime before his leg ailment; the Bad Commander's contribution was the core of his domineering Heavenly Gang Technique. Furthermore, by tempering his body with the secret ancient methods of the God of War's Strange Altar in Raojiang, this indestructible body and immortal weapon were created."

Jingxinmo paused, secretly glancing at Li Cunxu's unpredictable expression, and continued, "However, all the previous matters of contacting, selecting the site, and supervising the construction were handled by Li Cunren. This item should have been personally controlled by the late king or passed to Your Highness on the day of its completion, serving as a national treasure for our Jin Kingdom. However, Heaven did not grant him a long life, and the late king passed away too hastily. This scoundrel Li Cunren not only failed to deliver this important item to Your Highness, but also defected to the Liang Dynasty, causing this item to be sealed in a secret place. It is even unknown whether he took this control method and presented it to Xiao Yan."

"Continue." Li Cunxu nodded slightly, but his expression remained ambiguous. He watched the three fighting in the distance without even glancing at Jingxinmo.

"And the reason I was able to obtain this item is because I was ordered to build the Opera Pavilion..." Mirror Heart Demon coughed, raised the box high in his hand, and said:
"Before the New Year, Your Highness ordered me to contact the Bad People. During a secret meeting, I met the Bad People's leader. He said... that he was grateful for the promise he made to the late King, and seeing the current predicament of our Jin Kingdom, with the Xiao traitor's power growing, and knowing my unwavering loyalty to Your Highness and the Jin Kingdom, he entrusted this weapon and its control techniques to me. He also said that this item was a token of the old alliance between our two families and of our obedience to the Tang Dynasty, and also a powerful tool to help Your Majesty turn the tide."

However…this manipulation technique is profound and obscure, containing elements of witchcraft and sorcery. This humble servant, of dull aptitude, exhausted myself, spending months in vain, until just now, at the critical moment, I barely managed to draw upon a wisp of its power.”

At this moment, Jingxinmo feigned pain and said with lingering fear, "The reason I didn't present this item to Your Highness immediately was because I was greedy for merit. My original intention was to fully master this secret technique before presenting it to Your Highness to claim credit and show off my abilities. However, Your Highness was in such a perilous situation, and I arrived late to rescue you. I am guilty beyond reproach. But this item is indeed a legacy of the late King and a testament to the sincerity of the alliance between the Bad Commander and the Bad Commander. Moreover, as far as I know, the Bad Commander possesses other 'Gods of War,' though they are not as powerful as this ultimate item that combines the essence of the late King and the Bad Commander. Each one is capable of fighting dozens of elite troops. I hope Your Majesty will understand..."

After saying this, Jingxinmo finally kowtowed heavily, holding the box with a look of fear.

Li Cunxu remained silent, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the black box in Jingxinmo's hand, the fierce battle between the God of War in the distance, and Jingxinmo's pale face. The generals around him also held their breath, their expressions ranging from resentment, shock, and doubt to fanaticism, but they all simply stared at the box without uttering a sound.

The delivery was very smooth.

However, in Li Cunxu's view, this actor whom he absolutely trusted was the first person to make him feel deeply wary. But after all, he was just an actor, so it was only a slight feeling. He then thought of other things.

The claim that Father collaborated with the Bad Commander is indeed true. Li Xingyun's claim to the title of King of Wei in Taiyuan was a result of this matter. Considering Father's years of dedicated training, it is plausible that he would devise such a weapon.

Li Cunxu never valued martial arts skills. He only learned a half-baked version of the Supreme Qiankun Skill taught to him by Li Keyong, which was enough for him to barely protect himself. In his view, personal martial prowess was ultimately a minor matter. The greatest weapon in the world was the ability to command an army as easily as one's own limbs and to improve the quality of middle and lower-ranking officers. This view had never changed in the past. Even his tenth brother, Li Cunxiao, had his moments of exhaustion in the army.

However, the appearance of Zhu Youwen and Li Maozhen ultimately shocked him, and he finally understood why a true master like his father would be so superstitious about the intimidating power of martial arts practiced to the extreme.

Therefore, the explanation from the Mirror Heart Demon is plausible, and if this God of War truly possesses the primordial power bestowed upon him by his father, then the lingering bloodline connection from before also makes sense...

Ultimately, what truly convinced Li Cunxu himself was the terrifying power of the God of War in the distance, who single-handedly fought against Li Maozhen and forced Zhu Youwen to retreat.

The main force was delayed by Wang Yanzhang for three days, and the royal court had not yet fallen. Zhao Siwen's army was about to arrive, and the directions of Li Siyuan, Li Cunli, and Yelü Lage were unknown. The central army was severely weakened and its efforts were in vain. The last remaining strength of the Jin state in the northern desert was like a candle in the wind. If it could not support Yelü Lage's grassland rebels, the Jin state would have no choice but to retreat to Yinshan, or even lose Yinshan and lose the entire Daibei region.

Strength, that's what he needs most right now.

Whether it's stabilizing morale, intimidating powerful enemies, or reclaiming routed troops, the terrifying deterrent power of this God of War is essential. As for those lesser Gods of War who can take on ten opponents at once... the bait thrown out by Mirror Heart Demon seems particularly tempting at this moment.

The pros and cons were weighed in his mind in a flash. Li Cunxu took a deep breath, instantly suppressing the churning clouds of doubt. He spoke slowly, his voice regaining its usual deepness, revealing neither joy nor anger:
"It is both a legacy from my father and a national treasure, as well as a token of the alliance between the Bad Guys... I understand." His gaze fell on the Mirror Heart Demon. "You shall temporarily control this object, and you must be extremely careful. It shall not be moved without my personal order. Now, order it... to force Zhu and Li to retreat. Do not pursue a cornered enemy. Return to your own camp immediately. I want to see it for myself."

Mirror Heart Demon felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and repeatedly agreed. After getting up, he held the black box in both hands, muttering incantations, while the snake-shaped object inside the box slowly coiled down.

In the distance, the God of War, who was exchanging a powerful blow with Zhu Youwen, causing the latter's blood to surge, had a gleam in his gray-white eyes.

Zhu Youwen was no ordinary man; even in his rage, he was acutely aware of these subtle changes. Seizing this fleeting opening, he unleashed the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Art within his body, pushing his palms forward with tremendous force. A surge of condensed black malevolent energy, like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair, slammed into the God of War's chest. Simultaneously, using the recoil, he propelled himself backward like a cannonball.

On the other side, Li Maozhen's heterochromatic eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the purple light on the broken sword instantly condensed into a single point, piercing straight at the back of the God of War exposed by Zhu Youwen's attack with speed beyond the reach of sight.

Before the sword even arrived, its sharp aura pierced the air with a hissing sound. The God of War's gray-blue aura surged in response to block, but Li Maozhen's broken sword twisted strangely before making contact, its tip lightly touching the aura. Using the force, he flew backward like a leaf, disappearing in a few flashes and already more than ten feet away.

"withdraw!"

Yuan Xingqin's roar was like a thunderclap. He had already commanded the troops that had joined up with Wang Yanzhang's remnants, relying on the sharpness of the Dingbadu cavalry, to tear open a gap in the Jin army's reorganization and rush eastward. Now, seeing that Zhu and Li, the two top warriors, had escaped, he no longer hesitated and pointed his long spear southeast.

Zhu Youwen and Li Maozhen were incredibly fast; the latter caught up with Yuan Xingqin's large group in just a few leaps.

The former then joined forces with the dozens of riders who had rushed towards them from Zhong Xiaokui. They turned around, looked at the statue of the God of War and the direction of the blurry royal banner on the distant hill, and remained silent for a long while before turning their horses and riding away.

Li Maozhen remained silent, only crushing the remaining hilt of his sword into powder, letting the dust fall through his fingers, perhaps with a hint of regret.

Under the control of the Mirror Heart Demon, the God of War symbolically chased forward a few steps before stopping indifferently, like a statue that had lost its target, standing on the battlefield in ruins. There was hardly anyone around him for dozens of feet. He still had an invincible posture, but his pupils, which were staring at the dust and smoke of the departing Liang army, were empty.

After Li Cunxu had Jingxinmo summon him, he looked at the God of War in his black robe and bronze mask and remained silent on horseback for a long time. In the end, he gave up and told Jingxinmo not to remove his mask.

The Mirror Demon was respectful, seemingly unconcerned about the consequences of removing his mask, only slightly surprised by Li Cunxu's sudden change of mind.

Li Cunxu simply reined in his horse and stood atop the hill, looking around.

The exhausted soldiers wore expressions of bewilderment at having survived a calamity and fear of the silent, god-like figure standing guard. Generals Shi Jiantang, Xia Luqi, and Li Jianji, though all wounded, still kept their eyes fixed on him, awaiting his orders.

Wang Ting? Shuliduo? Zhao Siwen? All plans were shattered by this sudden change.

Continuing to launch a strong attack on Wang Ting would only lead to being caught in a pincer movement between the main Liang army and Zhao Siwen, who was returning to reinforce. Not to mention that this battle did not result in the capture or killing of Wang Yanzhang, but instead created two formidable enemies, Zhu Youwen and Li Maozhen, who could turn on them at any time.

Li Cunxu's gaze swept over the thousands of corpses on the battlefield, especially the rivers of blood surrounding the hill, those of the most elite Shatuo warriors of Jin.

Will this trip to the northern desert end in defeat or victory?

It's laughable that despite his relentless efforts and countless surprise attacks across thousands of miles, he's already in such a sorry state without even exchanging blows with Xiao Yan.

He couldn't afford to gamble his remaining capital on a lost opportunity.

His gaze finally turned to the east, to the grassland that appeared even more crimson, outlined by the sunset glow.

"Issue the order." Li Cunxu's voice was somewhat weary, but still deliberately sharp. "Abandon the matter of the royal court entirely. The entire army shall advance eastward immediately."

He pointed his whip eastward, "Shi Jiantang."

"Your subordinate is here!" Shi Jiantang, enduring his pain, clasped his hands and stepped forward.

"I hereby appoint you as the vanguard, leading your elite cavalry, lightly armed and simply, raising my royal banner, and heading east at full speed. Along the way, gather the scattered men of my Jin state. If you encounter small groups of Liang bandits, kill them without mercy. If you encounter large enemy forces, avoid their sharp edge and report back immediately. You must ascertain the exact location and situation of the Grand Commandant, Marquis Xue, and Yelü Lage's forces."

"Yes, sir." Shi Jiantang accepted the order and turned to muster the troops.

"Xia Luqi, Li Jianji."

"Your subordinate is here!" the two generals replied in unison.

"You two will command the main force of the central army, closely following Shi Jiantang. Maintain formation, advance steadily, and be ready to support the vanguard and repel any potential Liang army interception. Those seriously wounded will be cared for by the rear guard." "Yes, sir!"

"Eleventh brother."

"Your subordinate is here." Li Cunyong, with a hunched back and holding a large bow, stepped forward.

"You will lead the remaining elite troops of the Tongwen Academy, carrying my decree and token, and depart immediately, ahead of others. You must find the Grand Commandant and Marquis Xue, inform them of the army's movements, and order them to lead the elite troops of Yelü Lage to my side at all costs. Tell them to hold on. I will still personally come to meet you..."

"This humble general will certainly not fail in his mission." Li Cunyong was also moved for a moment, but he only bowed solemnly.

Finally, Li Cunxu, unable to hide his exhaustion, glanced at the God of War standing as still as a mountain and the Mirror Heart Demon beside him, whose face was still pale.

"The God of War will move with the central army. Mirror Heart Demon, keep a close eye on him. Not a single soldier may be moved without my order. Order Zhu Shouyin and Li Zhou to send a contingent to clean up the battlefield and provide support for the wounded."

"This humble servant will obey Your Majesty's command!" Mirror Heart Demon bowed and replied.

Li Cunxu said no more, then suddenly pulled on the reins, and his warhorse reared up, letting out a long neigh. He flicked his whip in the air, pointing it towards the setting sun.

But he remained silent for a moment, and ultimately did not utter the same ambitious words he had spoken in Taiyuan and at the foot of Yinshan Mountain.

"The three armies set off."

The mournful sound of the bugle rang out once more, echoing along the blood-soaked banks of the Luan River.

The massive Jin army formation began to move slowly, following the royal banner that first pointed eastward.

------

Deep within the Yinshan Mountains, the north wind howls like a knife. Jagged rocks cast menacing shadows in the twilight, the swamp surges, and the dampness in the forest rises as if leading to the underworld. A few faint ripples linger in the air, and ordinary birds and beasts have vanished.

The densely packed tree maidens seemed to be rooted in the swamp, slowly wriggling. In the center of the swamp, bubbles kept rising, like a pot of boiling water.

"oops…"

A soft, eerie, and alluring inhale broke the deathly silence. Someone slowly waded out of the swamp, and along the way, the tree maidens all withered and sank silently to the bottom of the murky water, never to rise again.

The figure ignored this, staggering out of the life-devouring swamp, one step at a time, and then climbed straight up the higher, more treacherous, and darker ridge of the Yinshan main range.

After climbing for an unknown amount of time, darkness completely enveloped the surrounding area, with only moonlight and starlight falling on the jagged rocks. The figure finally reached the main ridge of Yin Mountain and stopped in front of the deep, secluded cave.

He greedily inhaled the sacred air of this place, then staggered forward, stepping into the cave entrance where the light was swallowed by an invisible force. He descended the cold, slippery stone steps, sinking deeper into the darkness. Finally, at the end of the steps, he knelt before the stone door sealed by an invisible stream of light and prostrated himself.

"Divine Jade, thank you, Sage, for bestowing upon me a new life..."

Inside the cave, a frozen stillness and darkness prevailed. The eerie blue light emanating from the stone doorway was indistinct, and the silhouettes of figures within it were completely obscured at the boundary between light and shadow, making them difficult to discern.

After a long while, an ancient, hoarse female voice, yet strangely imbued with a gentle and inclusive power, slowly rang out in this absolutely dark space.

"Good child, it's good that you're back. Are you adjusting well?"

Bali Shenyu trembled slightly with excitement, raised his head, and his eyes sparkled with fervent tears: "Shenyu... Shenyu feels better than ever before. Thanks to the blessing of the Saint, my power... my power is even stronger than when my brother was here!"

"Hmm..." Dokoho's voice remained gentle, "Being born is not easy, so cherish it. As for your brother, let him be, don't dwell on it."

Bali Shenyu choked back tears and kowtowed again: "Holy One, how could Shenyu not remember?... Shenyu hates, hates that princess, hates that Shuliduo... Shenyu is clearly trying to restore the glory of the Yuling tribe..."

“Foolish child… your obsession remains, your resentment is solidified, this is not a long-term solution.” Dokoho sighed with pity, interrupting his accusation, “Resentment is like fire, it burns others before it burns oneself. Now that you have been reborn, you must have a path to rebirth. As for Siyu Dan… she holds something in her hand that will be of great use to you and to me.”

Bali Shenyu suddenly looked up: "Is this what the Sage is referring to?"

"Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Art." Dokoho's voice remained gentle. "Although Siyu Dan tried to conceal it, she couldn't hide it from me in the end. She has already completed this technique, and if you want to remove the Balu Stone, this technique is of great importance. The copy in Siyu Dan's hand is the source. Find her and obtain the complete manual of this technique... This will be the most important step on your path to rebirth."

Bali Shenyu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he immediately said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, Shenyu will do everything in his power to snatch that technique from the princess. However..."

He hesitated for a moment, a hint of recollection in his eyes, "Back when my brother was in charge of the Chu Te tribe going to the Tu River to pay homage to Shuliduo and Xiao Yan, Shenyu had seen Xiao Wang from afar. His aura was surging, and his murderous intent was overwhelming. It seemed... it seemed he had also practiced a similar technique? His power was no less than that of the princess. If he also..."

The eerie blue aura within the stone gate seemed unchanged, and Dokoho's voice remained calm: "King Xiao? Is that the Khan Xiao you once spoke of? What he cultivates may be of the same origin, or it may be an imitation. However, the essence of the cultivation method lies in its source. The one in Siyu Dan's hand is the key I need. The so-called King Xiao is nothing to worry about."

Bali Shenyu lowered his body, but carefully added:

"What the Sage says is absolutely right, but I hope the Sage will not underestimate this King Xiao. I have heard that the entire Central Plains has almost been taken over by this King Xiao, and he has even set his sights on the grasslands. I have also heard that although this man's surname is Xiao, it seems that his original surname was Li? Is he a descendant of the Li Tang imperial family of the Central Plains? I wonder if it is true or not..."

"plum?!"

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the gentle, warm aura within the stone gate vanished abruptly. A pure, murderous intent, seemingly frozen in time and space, erupted without warning.

This killing intent wasn't violent, but rather deathly still, annihilation, a hatred etched deep into the marrow and soul. It was silent, yet it caused even a madman like Bali Shenyu to instantly change color, his prostrate body trembling violently.

The countless old bronze bells hanging in front of the stone gate began to shake wildly, the faded wind banners moved without wind, fluttering wildly, and the ancient talismans wrapped around them hissed, with charred marks on their edges. As for the turntable above the stone gate that supported the remaining seven Balu stones, it emitted dim purple light, as if it was suppressing something.

Fortunately, the pale blue halo only fluctuated violently for a moment before calming down.

"Li...Tang...remnants?"

With just four words, Bali Shenyu felt as if his soul was being frozen. He lay prostrate on the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably, his teeth chattering: "To be honest, Your Majesty, this is what I heard, and I don't know if it's true or not yet. If Your Majesty needs it, I will go and investigate it carefully for you..."

After a brief silence, Dokoho's voice rang out again, his tone returning to a certain calm.

"The cultivation method you should rely on is still the one Si Yudan has. However, she is exceptionally intelligent and has a remarkable temperament; you alone will not be able to master it. I will pass on a portion of my cultivation to you later, and you should also seek some assistance..."

She paused, then said, "If you encounter that so-called King Xiao, you should find an opportunity to lure him to Yinshan, whether it is here or at the foot of Yinshan."

Bali Shenyu's heart pounded wildly. He suppressed his excitement and pressed his forehead firmly against the cold ground.

“Shenyu…I will obey the Holy One’s decree and will not fail the Holy One’s trust.”

"Go."

------

As dusk settled, the majestic city of Youzhou was bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun. In the wide square in front of the governor's mansion, the atmosphere was as tense as a taut bowstring. The wind whipped through the flagpoles, making a rustling sound, but otherwise, all was deathly silent.

Led by Li Ting, the chief clerk of Youzhou, civil and military officials stood solemnly on both sides according to their rank. Gongyang Zuo, Fu An, and other core members of the notorious spies in Hebei in recent months were all dressed in standard black uniforms, and each of them exuded an unusually respectful aura.

The officers and soldiers of the General Staff were all holding their breath, the air thick with tension at the impending battle and awe for the approaching figures.

Everyone waited quietly.

Just as the last rays of dawn were about to be swallowed by the twilight, a sharp, short whistling sound suddenly pierced the air beneath the glow of the sunset in the southwest, as if a sharp blade had instantly sliced ​​through the thick twilight clouds.

Everyone felt a chill and instinctively looked up.

A condensed, azure-gold sword light appeared, like a shooting star tearing through the sunset, instantly reaching the sky above the plaza. The sword light was devoid of any brilliance, so fast that it was almost an illusion. The light dissipated abruptly, and two figures landed gracefully, without disturbing a speck of dust.

The man in the lead was dressed in a blue robe, with only a plain black turban on his head. Apart from a jade belt, he had no other jewelry or ornaments, and looked like a scholar traveling for study.

However, when he stood still and slightly raised his eyes to scan the entire room, the calm and majesty that naturally emanated from his young and handsome face made everyone who met his gaze feel a chill and involuntarily want to lower their heads.

A long sword of extremely ancient style hung at his waist, his only accessory, yet it made him appear even more like a drawn sword, its sharpness concealed.

Half a step behind him was a tall, slender woman. Her face was covered by a mask, revealing only her pursed lips and beautifully shaped jawline.

She wore a dark, form-fitting outfit that allowed for easy movement; the tight fabric accentuated her powerful waist and long, shapely legs. Yet, at this moment, this alluring body was taut like a fully drawn bow. Her fists were clenched at her sides, and a slight tremor could be seen even through her thin leather gloves. Her shoulders were stiff, and her neck was unnaturally straight, as if bearing an immense weight.

The oppressive aura emanating from the man beside her made it hard for her to breathe.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome the King of Qin."

"Long live Your Highness!"

Led by Li Ting and Gongyang Zuo, the more than one hundred civil and military officials and key members of the night patrol who were standing solemnly in front of the mansion moved in unison, as if propelled by an invisible wave, and bowed down with their hands clasped in unison.

The sounds of armor scales clashing and weapons striking the ground merged into a resounding, chilling clang of metal, so powerful that even the twilight seemed to tremble.

Xiao Yan's gaze calmly swept over the kneeling crowd, and he tossed his sword to Li Cunren, who gritted his teeth but caught it steadily and held it obediently.

He didn't speak immediately, but simply raised his hand slightly.

"You need not say more about the affairs of the northern desert. Issue my decree: prepare the three armies to ensure their sharpness; allocate provisions to fill the granaries; pacify the people and secure the rear."

He paused, his blue robe remaining motionless in the rising evening breeze, yet a powerful aura, seemingly capable of calming a vast ocean of waves, quietly spread out and enveloped the entire square.

"The flames of war rage in the northern frontier..."

His voice was slightly deep and thoughtful. His gaze swept over the faces that were tense, expectant, or awe-inspiring, and he finally just gave a faint smile.

"...I, the king, will extinguish it."

That short sentence acted like a stabilizing force, instantly pinning all the restlessness, unease, and clamor to the twilight-shrouded land of Youzhou.

Everything had come to a close at the feet of this dashing young man in a blue robe.

(End of this chapter)