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

Chapter 469 Let's see who the hero is today (Part 10)
The upheaval at the city gate of Dading Prefecture caused even more panic. Yelü Lage, who was in a fit of rage, had no intention of calming the entire army. He grabbed a few Hu women and went back to his tent to vent his anger.

As for what happened here, it was already close to midnight. Li Siyuan had no intention of bolstering the morale of his soldiers. He simply sat by the low platform of the tent where Li Sizhao was being housed, constantly wiping the ribs of the folding fan in his hand. His eyes, however, were fixed on Li Cunli outside the tent, who was talking quietly with Li Cunzhong about arranging matters.

The usual calmness on his sixth brother's face now seemed unfathomable to him.

So much so that even Ba Ye, who constantly addressed Li Cunli as the Holy Lord, made him somewhat wary. Not to mention Ba Ye, who was originally a member of the Bad People, and who held considerable weight in front of Yuan Tiangang. His sixth brother, who was always resourceful, had such a figure hidden under his command. How could he not know?

Li Siyuan tapped his palm with his folding fan, slowly and deliberately.

Li Cunli bent over, gathered his sleeves, and entered the tent, but he kept glancing back at the various Yelü Lage tribes in the distance, who were preparing to retreat westward but looked somewhat flustered, his brows furrowed.

When he turned around, just as he was about to report the few things he had just arranged, he saw Li Siyuan looking at him with a glint in his eyes. He was immediately startled, and without thinking, he crossed his hands, raised them above his head, and bowed down.

"Big brother."

"Sixth Brother," Li Siyuan didn't look at him, his gaze still fixed on the fan ribs, as if something extraordinary was engraved on them.

"That vixen Shuliduo, she certainly has a soft spot for you on the city wall. Such arrogance! But now the situation is clear, and even I am quite tempted by her words. Sixth brother, do you not have your own thoughts on this?"

Li Cunli trembled. He raised his head, his eyes filled with a misunderstood sincerity and urgency: "Brother, how could we, brothers, fall for this sorcerer's divisive scheme? Every word she utters is intended to disrupt our army's morale and destroy our comrades. Heaven and earth can bear witness to my heart. Since following you from Taiyuan, I have faced life and death with you, seeking only to assist you in achieving your great cause and to secure my own future. How could I possibly have a change of heart because of a few seductive words from this sorcerer? If you doubt me, I am willing to commit suicide here immediately to prove my innocence!"

As he spoke, he actually reached for the soft sword at his waist.

A glint flashed in Li Siyuan's eyes, and with a snap, he closed his folding fan and pressed it down on Li Cunli's wrist as he drew his sword.

He stared at Li Cunli for a long time, and the latter met his gaze without any panic on his face, only a hint of bitterness and sincerity from being interrogated.

Just then, Li Cunzhong from outside strode in. Upon seeing this scene, he was stunned again, and then felt rather embarrassed, unable to move forward or backward.

"Sixth Brother, what are you doing!" Li Siyuan sighed, his voice softening. He didn't look at Li Cunzhong, but simply reached out to help Li Cunli up.

“We are brothers, we have been through thick and thin together, how could we let a few words of provocation from the enemy cause us to have a falling out? I was just testing your intentions. In this critical situation, people’s hearts are unpredictable, and we have to be careful. If even Sixth Brother has been bewitched by that vixen, then I am truly helpless. That’s why I was momentarily flustered and panicked. It was my fault just now.”

Li Cunli sighed, saying nothing more, only saying, "Brother, this time Li Maozhen and Zhu Youwen have risen up together, treating the entire army as nothing. They were able to rescue Wang Yanzhang the other day, but if they suddenly attack us during our retreat, who can stop them? Who can subdue them? I fear our return journey will be fraught with peril..."

Li Siyuan held onto Li Cunli's arm, the suspicion in his heart not yet completely dissipated, and a few more pressures added.

Yes, the Three Kings theory has been popular for many years, and the two emperors have dominated the martial arts world for more than a decade. Below them, there are almost no ones who can control them. However, Xiao Yan has three under his command, not to mention that after Li Maozhen's trip to Raojiang, they have become even more unpredictable.

Ever since witnessing Yuan Tiangang's actions firsthand, Li Siyuan has become increasingly wary of those who can directly threaten the heads of generals.

However, before he could speak, Li Cunzhong, who was hunched over, rushed over first.

"Sixth Brother, don't worry." Li Cunzhong lowered his voice and said urgently, "What I said before was not to deceive the likes of Yelü Lige. The Prince of Jin does indeed have unfathomable help from ghosts and gods. Even if Li Maozhen and Zhu Youwen join forces, they are not to be feared."

Li Siyuan seemed to have guessed something, and for a moment he narrowed his eyes in thought, while gently tapping his palm with his folding fan.

Li Cunli's eyes gleamed with surprise as he pressed on, "Is what Ninth Brother said true? In the Prince of Jin's army... who can stop Zhu Youwen and Li Maozhen?"

A hint of lingering fear appeared on Li Cunzhong's face as he said, "Sixth Brother, what was blocked... wasn't a person, it was a god of war."

He licked his lips, as if recalling something utterly mind-blowing, then carefully recounted Mirror Heart Demon's words, detailing how the so-called God of War had fought Zhu and Li with astonishing power, before finally saying:
"That thing was shaped like an iron tower, wrapped in a black robe, and didn't look like a living thing at all. Zhu Youwen's murderous aura and Li Maozhen's illusionary sound technique were actually unable to break its defense. His internal strength was profound and unfathomable. If he hadn't suddenly appeared and blocked the two thieves Zhu and Li by himself, Prince Jin would probably have been in danger at that time."

Li Cunli was greatly shocked. He prided himself on his martial arts skills, so he could better understand the prowess of Li Maozhen and Zhu Youwen. To achieve what they had, talent, temperament, and experience were all indispensable. Such a person was already one in a million, let alone someone who could fight two against one.
As for that so-called God of War's Strange Altar, although it involves the sacred lands of witchcraft and sorcery like the Twelve Caves of Raojiang, ...

But then Li Cunli remembered Li Siyuan's secret trip to Raojiang and the truth behind his adoptive father Li Keyong's death, and immediately turned to look at Li Siyuan.

Li Siyuan remained noncommittal. He found it difficult to imagine the scene that would unfold when the God of War's Strange Altar was combined with Li Keyong. Since Rao Jiang's attack on the Witch King and the theft of the forbidden technique's origin, he had never truly witnessed the power of the so-called God of War's Strange Altar. However, he could hardly forget the strength that Li Keyong had displayed in the battle at Hidden Spring Mountain, which had once astonished Yuan Tiangang.

If the two are combined...

Such divine weapons...

The thought that this item was actually in Li Cunxu's possession stirred a deeper sense of dread and an indescribable ambition within him. If only he could… But Li Siyuan did not show it on his face. He simply let out a long sigh of relief and clapped his hands, saying, “Heaven blesses the Jin Kingdom. With this reliance, our army has nothing to worry about.”

He then looked at Li Cunli: "Sixth brother, since that's the case, the retreat must be carried out without any mistakes. Although Yelü Lage is incredibly stupid, he can still maintain the various tribes of the grasslands. We cannot abandon him lightly in the short term. You are meticulous and quick to assist him. You must restrain the various tribes. As your elder brother, I will go and negotiate with that Li family son. We should try our best to set off westward before dawn tomorrow. If we are late, things may change."

"Your foolish brother obeys." Li Cunli suppressed the complex emotions in his heart, clasped his hands in agreement, and turned to leave in large strides.

Li Siyuan watched his departing figure, unfolded his folding fan again, and gently shook it. He then narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment before beckoning Li Cunzhong and giving him some instructions.

As dawn broke and bugles sounded mournfully, the remnants of the Shatuo tribe, along with the defeated remnants of the Yishi and Diela tribes, broke camp and set off westward in retreat.

After recognizing reality, the tens of thousands of troops abandoned the "empty" royal court they had besieged for half a month and ultimately fled in defeat. Although they set off quickly, the hasty departure left behind abandoned supplies, wagons, and broken tents, adding to their panic.

Fortunately, Li Cunxu did not keep them waiting for too long.

Shi Jiantang's vanguard brought hundreds of specially made chariots. These chariots were two-wheeled, with heavy iron-clad shields erected on both sides and in front. Countless long spears protruded from the gaps between the shields, resembling steel hedgehogs. Each chariot was pulled by four strong horses, followed by more than twenty infantrymen armed with powerful bows and crossbows.

Although the chariot formation slowed down the march, with several thousand elite Jin cavalrymen on each flank providing support and protection, the entire formation was as heavy as a mountain, and its movement carried an indescribable sense of oppression.

Having ventured deep into the grasslands, Li Cunxu was clearly not unprepared. With tens of thousands of troops moving lightly, surrounded by enemy forces on all sides, a reckless attack was no longer the best strategy.

If they insist on rushing westward, and are harassed by elite cavalry from Youzhou like Dingbadu and light cavalry from the royal court, the army can easily be outflanked and divided. At best, the army will partially collapse; at worst, logistics and morale will crumble, and the army will completely lose the initiative in both defense and offense, becoming extremely passive.

Li Cunxu was a veteran of cavalry warfare and naturally feared this tactic. Hence, he adopted a steady and methodical approach, relying on chariot formations to build a mobile defensive system, supplemented by cavalry vigilance and local counterattacks during the retreat. Although this slowed down the advance, once the northern grasslands crossed the Luan River and entered the Tanshan line, they were supported by the Jin army and the Yinshan auxiliary forces.

The core objective of this battle was to preserve Yelü Lige's fighting force and support him in splitting the grasslands. If Li Cunxu wanted to sit idly by and watch his troops be divided and crippled, why would he bother getting involved in this mess?

Saving Yelü Lage is saving ourselves; losing Yelü Lage means losing Yinshan; losing Yinshan means danger for the State of Jin. Abandoning all of this, even if the State of Jin accumulates national strength, it will only be a slow death.

Protected by the core of the chariot formation, Li Cunxu's central army slowly advanced. He himself, clad in red armor and robes, sat upright on horseback, but his face showed little joy. The war god, draped in a wide black robe and wearing a bronze mask, accompanied him indifferently, his gray-white pupils scanning the wilderness, his hands behind his back, appearing particularly imposing and majestic.

Cheers erupted from the waiting army, especially from the Shatuo cavalry, instantly igniting the subdued atmosphere.

The remaining noble chieftains of the Yelü Lage, Yishi, and Diela tribes, looking at the steel torrent of chariots and the invincible royal banner, regained their radiance. Their previous fear was replaced by an almost blind sense of peace.

"The Prince of Jin is a divine warrior, a master strategist!"

Yelü Lage spurred his horse forward, laughing heartily: "With the Prince of Jin commanding the army, and with this invincible battle formation and tens of thousands of soldiers, what do we have to fear from the likes of Wang Yanzhang and Zhao Siwen? Even if Xiao Yan himself comes, we will make sure he never returns!"

The tribal leaders around him echoed his sentiments, and in an instant, shouts of "Long live the King of Jin!" and "Invincible divine troops!" resounded across the plains. The humiliation of yesterday and the disgrace under the city walls seemed to be swept away in an instant by this powerful reinforcement.

The fake Li remained behind the crowd with a cold face, not joining in. His three thousand Jin soldiers had long been handed over to Li Siyuan, so for the time being he only had a little over a thousand trusted soldiers who had been either merged or subdued. Among these tens of thousands of troops, he was obviously not a big name.

Li Siyuan, Li Cunli, and others also joined the central army and reported back to Li Cunxu.

Li Cunxu merely nodded slightly, seemingly exhausted, and said little. He simply ordered Shi Jiantang to lead the vanguard, clearing away any small groups of cavalry and clearing the way for the enemy; Xia Luqi and Li Cunxiao led their troops to cover the rear, deploying numerous feints and scouts to delay Zhao Siwen's main force behind them, as well as the forces of Wang Yanzhang and Yuan Xingqin, who had joined forces with Sun He and other main forces from Youzhou.

He himself led the central army, along with Li Siyuan, Li Cunli, Yelü Lage and other Jin army generals and key generals from the northern desert, and together with that god of war, steadily advanced westward.

The steel torrent, carrying Yelü Lige's remnants, began its westward advance at full speed. Chariots rumbled, horses' hooves pounded the ground, kicking up clouds of dust, their momentum unmatched for a time.

Just as Li Cunxu had predicted, Zhao Siwen's more than 10,000 cavalrymen arrived quickly and pressed tightly against the northern flank of the main army. On the south side, elite troops from Youzhou also set out, with one force each from Li Maozhen, Wang Yanzhang, and Yuan Xingqin, harassing the Mo formation in turn.

Suddenly, a fierce battle of pursuit and counter-pursuit broke out on the vast northern grasslands.

But Li Cunxu simply sat in the central army and commanded with composure.

The chariot formation was clearly not without its merits. Its defensive capabilities allowed Li Cunxu to constantly adjust the battle lines, coordinate with cavalry maneuvers, and have the infantry rely on powerful crossbows and bows to fight back, repeatedly thwarting the offensives of Zhao Siwen and Wang Yanzhang.

Moreover, whenever the Liang army's offensive became too fierce, the God of War would suddenly strike, either directly confronting Li Maozhen, Wang Yanzhang, and others, or charging straight into the Liang army's cavalry formation, sweeping all before him and buying time for the main army to regroup.

The God of War's terrifying display of disregard for pain, immense strength, and bizarre aura became the biggest reassurance for the Jin army and Yelü Lage's tribe, and also made the pursuing side feel deeply troubled. Moreover, Li Cunxu's abandonment of the rushing tactic made it difficult for them to find an opening to outflank and encircle him.

On the other hand, while Li Cunxu was indeed well-versed in military strategy and had extensive practical experience, Wang Yanzhang and Li Maozhen were no ordinary men either. Not only were they both capable generals, but they also had the cooperation of generals such as Zhao Siwen and Yuan Xingqin, making their defenses impenetrable and difficult for Li Cunxu to find any weaknesses.

However, Li Cunxu was not the only general in the Jin army. There were also veteran generals such as Li Siyuan, Li Cunli, Li Jianji, and Shi Jiantang, each leading troops and commanding them as if they were their own arms.

Furthermore, both sides commanded elite troops. Leaving aside the streamlined and eliminated forces under Yelü Lige, the soldiers of both the Jin and Liang armies were professional soldiers, their generals were seasoned veterans, their officers were highly qualified, and their commanders were experienced. Each side's commander was also a renowned general. Therefore, for a time, the two sides were evenly matched, locked in a chase and counterattack for nearly two days, with neither able to gain the upper hand.

Thus, one side fought and retreated, advancing step by step; the other side pursued relentlessly, launching wave after wave of attacks.

But perhaps it was the Jin army's exquisite coordination that made the difference, or perhaps it was the relentless pursuit of Fang Yifei, but the pressure from Wang Yanzhang, Li Maozhen, and the other pursuing troops eventually lessened. Like a patient pack of wolves, they kept a distance, and although they occasionally launched probing attacks, these were repelled by Xia Luqi and Li Cunxiao, who were covering the rear, and they never launched another reckless attack.

This situation clearly created the illusion for the Yelü Lage tribe, who were like frightened birds, that "King Jin is mighty and the Liang army dares not press him." Lü Lage walked not far from Li Cunxu, his nerves, which had been tense for many days, relaxed, and his face even regained some of the air of the King of the Northern Desert.

He looked around and could no longer see the pursuers. He then laughed heartily: "The Prince of Jin is a god of war, unpredictable and beyond the comprehension of even the gods. The Liang bandits pursued us fiercely, but in just two days, they have cowered like rats at the mere sight of the Prince of Jin's banner. The Prince of Jin is truly a war god of our time. Tell me, with the Prince of Jin here, how can we not make a comeback?"

Seeing this, the old chieftain of the Yishi tribe also laughed and said, "What the Great Khan said is absolutely right. With Prince Jin in charge of the overall situation, why should we worry about not being able to regroup? That wicked queen of the royal court still dares to be arrogant. When we return with Prince Jin after our rest, we will surely flatten the royal court and tear that wicked queen Shuliduo to pieces to avenge our past humiliation!"

Other tribal chiefs echoed the sentiment, showering the victims with flattery, as if the humiliation of a few days prior was merely an illusion.

Hearing these words of agreement, Yelü Lage instinctively wanted to lean over and pat Li Cunxu on the shoulder like a close brother, but then thought better of it and refrained. Instead, he just scratched his beard and laughed: "In front of Prince Jin, Xiao Yan's henchmen are nothing more than this. With Prince Jin's army here, with these divine soldiers, the northern desert will be ours sooner or later! That vile woman Shuliduo, and that brat Xiao Yan, wait until I regroup..."

With Yelü Lige himself stirring up the atmosphere and his men laughing loudly, the central army momentarily felt as if they had won a great victory.

Li Cunxu sat upright on his horse, his brows slightly furrowed, but he did not reprimand him. He believed that if this could boost morale a little, he would let it go.

His gaze swept across the wasteland to the western horizon, his fingers unconsciously stroking the iron riding whip. The retreat of the pursuers did not reassure him; he could sense that in just a few short years, the gap between the Jin army and the Liang army, or rather, between the Jin army and Xiao Yan's direct subordinates, was widening dramatically.

The Youzhou Army has always been Xiao Yan's main force. Although Dingbadu and Guide Army were transferred to Bianliang to form the Imperial Guard, after the battle of Shu, not all of them were left in the central government. Instead, a portion was sent to Hebei. According to Li Cunxu's thinking, Xiao Yan must have intended to rotate troops there.

However, with this elite force that had fought alongside Xiao Yan in countless battles, large and small, as its main force, the combat strength of the Youzhou army would naturally continue to improve. With the old leading the new and the junior officers possessing extremely high quality, a border army under Xiao Yan's command could rival the Crow Army.

As for the Imperial Guards, which were the main force controlled by Xiao Yan, what is their combat strength after being eliminated and streamlined by Xiao Yan?

And it is obvious that the towns of Jiangnan are threatening the defenses of the Yangtze River, and the troops that Xiao Yan has dispatched to the south must be the main force of the Imperial Guards...

However, after thinking about it for a moment, Li Cunxu felt a headache coming on. Not only did he no longer have the same competitive spirit he had with Xiao Yan over the years, but he also felt a sense of oppression rising up, as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart.

However, in this situation and at this moment, Li Cunxu could not show any of these signs. With Guo Chongtao, Zhou Dewei, Zhang Chengye, and others not around, he had no one to confide in. Therefore, he could only suppress his unbearable headache and try to hide his condition from others.

As the sun rose higher, we had traveled for most of the day. The view ahead suddenly opened up, and the Liu River and the Yixun River flowed quietly in the early spring sunshine like two silver ribbons, reflecting shimmering waves. Several pontoon bridges connecting the two banks swayed gently in the cold river water.

Between the two rivers was the Jin army camp where Li Cunxu was stationed. On the west bank, there was a small stockade that formed a defensive triangle with the main camp. Nearly a hundred miles further west was the Luanhe River camp. To the west of the Luanhe River camp was Gao Xingzhou's troops, who were responsible for providing support from Tanshan.

Upon arriving at the Lianghe camp, everything would soon return to a state of temporary safety.

Yelü Lage and other rebel nobles followed closely behind Li Cunxu, taking the lead. Yelü Lage's fear, regret, and anger over the past few days seemed to find an outlet when he saw the familiar outline of the camp on the other side of the river, turning into a bit of triumph.

Despite being besieged by several forces, that vile woman Shuliduo risked her life, using the Empty City Stratagem as bait. But through all her scheming, she ultimately gave me another chance to live. How could I not be happy to have survived against all odds?

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. We, the tribes of the Northern Desert, will never forget your kindness today. Once we retreat to Daibei and regroup, we will surely help Your Majesty conquer the Central Plains and punish that brat Xiao Yan..."

Li Cunxu didn't even turn his head; he simply stared calmly ahead.

Three pontoon bridges made of thick logs spanned the Liu River, connecting the small bridgehead camp on the west bank that guarded the river. But as the army slowly gathered, neither the main camp nor the small bridgehead camp made any move.

It's too quiet.

The pre-arranged sentry posts were deserted, and the watchtowers were silent. The large banner bearing the character "Jin" that should have flown high above the camp gate was nowhere to be seen. Not even the usual soldiers patrolling the camp walls could be seen. The entire camp, along with the bridgehead, was shrouded in a deathly silence. Only the turbid river water lapping against the wooden piles of the pontoon bridge made a hollow, mournful sound.

"Ok?"

Li Cunli's hand had unconsciously rested on the hilt of his sword, his eyes filled with vigilance. Li Siyuan's eyes also flickered slightly, his suspicious gaze sweeping back and forth between the silent camp and the rushing river. The little thought that had just arisen because he observed that Li Cunxu seemed to be enduring some kind of pain was instantly replaced by unease.

"What's going on?" Yelü Lage reined in his restless horse and asked in a gruff voice, his smugness freezing on his face and replaced by bewilderment. "Prince Jin, where are the men you left behind? Have they fallen asleep?"

He was both surprised and astonished, and a sense of unease crept into his heart. He hurriedly ordered the nobles around him, "Quickly, send someone to knock on the door!"

But just as Yelü Lage's personal guards were about to spur their horses onto the pontoon bridge, Li Cunxu suddenly raised his hand and shouted in a deep voice, "Halt!"

The guard's horse stood frozen in place, looking quite bewildered. The commotion of the tens of thousands of soldiers, which had been briefly a sign of relief after the disaster, had completely died down, leaving only the restless snorting of the warhorses and the rustling of the wind through their armor.

The color drained from Yelü Lage's face. He opened his mouth, as if to ask something or say something to bolster his courage, but his throat seemed inexplicably blocked, and only a soft hoarse sound came out. He looked around and saw faces filled with the same suspicion and uncertainty, even beginning to show signs of fear.

Li Cunxu, however, showed no expression whatsoever, not even fear. He simply held the reins and waited with narrowed eyes.

Seeing his demeanor, they dared not utter a sound.

Li Siyuan stroked the horsewhip in his hand, pondering, hesitating to speak.

at this time.

"Clang...clang...clang..."

A heavy rustling sound of wood scraping against each other broke the frozen silence. The sound came from the west bank, from the tightly closed gates of the Jin army's main camp.

Tens of thousands of gazes, as if drawn by invisible threads, all focused on it.

The heavy camp gate was being slowly pushed open from the inside. There were no ceremonial guards, no drums or music, only the monotonous and grating sound of the door hinges rubbing together, striking a chord in everyone's hearts.

Immediately, hundreds of figures filed out, lining up on the stockade walls to replace the empty guards.

At the camp gate, another hundred men surged out. These men were dressed in various styles: some were fierce Han soldiers clad in Central Plains lamellar armor and wielding long spears, while others were grassland youths who appeared to be Han, wearing leather armor and maces at their waists. They quickly lined up on both sides of the camp gate, hands on their swords, standing at attention. Even so, these men were more menacing than ordinary soldiers. Just by casually holding their blades, they stood there like ferocious tigers eyeing all their prey on the opposite bank of the river.

Immediately afterwards, a figure calmly stepped out from the passageway formed by the hundred people.

He wore ordinary dark blue lamellar armor, with a few barely noticeable wear and tear on the plates. Only his breastplate was polished to a shine, reflecting the glaring sunlight. A worn dark cloak was casually draped over his shoulders, its hem fluttering slightly behind him with his steady steps, occasionally revealing dried, dark red mud stains on his boots.

The sunlight slanted down on him, as if casting an unbearable halo around his otherwise ordinary armor. The wind seemed to have stopped completely at that moment, and even the rushing river had ceased to flow. On the battlefield of tens of thousands, all was silent except for the slight creaking of the wooden planks connecting the camp gate and the riverbank bridge as he stepped over them, and the soft rustling of his cloak as it fluttered in the wind.

Absolute silence. Absolute oppression.

Half a step behind him to the left, Li Cunren followed silently. She dared not look at Li Cunxu, but rather held a long sword of extremely ancient style with a hint of reluctance.

Beside her, Zhu Youwen, clad in black armor, stood proudly half a step to her right rear, hands behind his back, gazing disdainfully at the opposite bank of the river.

And there was the petite but rather sharp Zhong Xiao Kui, as well as the humble Shi Jingtang in his scholar's robe, and even the Youzhou generals such as Gongyang Zuo, all standing silently behind him, which was more powerful than a thousand words.

"Pfft."

A soft thud. It was Li Siyuan's horsewhip that slipped from his hand and fell into the mud. He was completely unaware of it, his eyes fixed on Shi Jingtang's figure on the opposite bank of the river, his face flushed. But then his gaze fell on the person in front of Shi Jingtang, and his lips trembled violently, as if he had recalled some unpleasant memory.

“Xiao… Xiao…” The old clan chief of the Otsu-muro clan murmured, only managing to utter two words before falling silent. His warhorse seemed to sense its master’s extreme fear and retreated uneasily.

"Eternal Heaven..." A nobleman from the Diela tribe groaned, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed directly from his horse. He was only caught by his flustered personal guards before falling to the ground.

Although Yelü Lage had never seen that person in person, at that moment, he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, making his mind suddenly turn into mush.

He felt as if he had returned to that blood-red dusk in Xilouyi, where the banner bearing the character "Xiao" was like divine punishment, crushing everything he was so proud of. All the smugness and clamor from before were now slapping him hard across the face, making his very soul tremble.

He gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, and a strange hoarse sound came from his throat, but he couldn't utter a single complete sentence.

That person was just a young man who had nearly wiped out his 100,000-strong royal army in a single battle, forcing him to make peace several times but failing and fleeing westward in disarray.

He was just a nobody, as he put it.

He was merely Xiao Yan, the true King of the Northern Desert, the Great Khan of the Steppes, the Supreme Ruler of the Central Plains, the Lord of All Under Heaven, and the one whom all tribes revered as King Xiao.

What is there to fear?

As for the other nobles and chieftains of the northern desert, they were all pale-faced, their eyes filled with the most primal and instinctive fear.

They seemed to see the White-haired Wind, the legendary beast that devoured all living beings in the grasslands, descend in human form. All the luck, all the praise, all the dreams of a comeback of the past two days were crushed to dust the moment this figure appeared, leaving not even a trace.

Fear spread silently through the ranks of the Northern Desert Army like a plague, causing a suppressed commotion and trembling. The horses neighed incessantly, some were pale and trembling, some had unfocused eyes and muttered to themselves, and some even subconsciously turned their horses around, wanting only to escape to the other side.

In an instant, Xiao Yan stood alone on the bridgehead, with only a thousand men behind him, yet countless soldiers in the Northern Desert Army fell off their horses and vomited incessantly.

As a result, even the battle-hardened and disciplined elite Shatuo troops were disturbed by the poor performance of the Northern Desert Army, and everyone became panicked. Although many people did not know what was happening ahead, their warhorses were also pacing restlessly and snorting.

Xiao Yan did not look at the banners waving on the opposite bank, nor at the thousands of cavalrymen. His gaze finally crossed the wide river and landed on the figure on the east bank, under the central banner, sitting upright on horseback, dressed in ordinary armor. He suddenly let out a long laugh.

"Li Yazi, did you enjoy the snow and wind in the northern desert?"

(End of this chapter)