Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 495 Cooperation
Xue Sui glanced at the dozens of elite Xiz soldiers behind Balu and smiled coldly.

“General Balu, my mother is Princess Xiz, and I am also Princess Mayila, who was bestowed the title by the royal court. Do you dare to lay a hand on the royal family? Are you planning a rebellion?”

She deliberately raised her voice.

In the Siz, the royal bloodline is called the descendants of the Wolf God, a supreme symbol. To blaspheme the royal family is tantamount to betraying the Wolf God; this is a reverence ingrained in the bones of the Siz people.

Unexpectedly, Balu's face twitched, and he refused to back down at all.

"The princess seduced a foreign spy, trespassed into the forbidden area of ​​the sacred mountain, and angered the Wolf God. She is already a sinner of Xiz... This humble general was acting under orders, how can this be considered rebellion?"

“General Balu.” Xue Sui advanced instead of retreating, slowly curving his lips, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

"May I ask if you are acting on the King's orders or the High Priest's decree? It seems to me you're here to cause trouble for Turgutai, aren't you?"

Balu's eyes flashed; he hadn't expected her to be so direct, and he was immediately enraged.

"This humble general is only acting on the king's orders. Princess, please don't make false accusations. It's all your fault for coming back, and even more so for having such inappropriate thoughts... Capture him, alive—"

The guards responded in unison and drew their swords, ready to step forward.

"Who dares?" Xue Sui flicked his wrist, and his longsword was drawn like a serpent, its cold light flashing across the withered grass.

"If you want to take me, you'll have to ask the sword in my hand for permission first."

Before she could finish speaking, Yao Guang shouted in alarm and anger from behind.

"Be careful, Thirteen!"

Then came a flurry of footsteps.

Yao Guang hastily tied a strip of cloth around his bleeding arm, and together with Yu Heng, they supported the unconscious Tian Shu on either side. They led more than ten disciples of the Old Mausoleum Swamp out of the depths of the canyon and quickly assumed a fighting stance.

Upon seeing this, Balu immediately burst into laughter.

"Perfect timing! All the spies are here. Let's take care of them all today, so I can report back to the King..."

"Pah! What a bully who relies on his master's power!" Yao Guang gritted his teeth and sneered. He ordered two disciples to help Tian Shu to the back to avoid danger, while he drew his sword and stood in front of Xue Sui, spitting out a mouthful of saliva.

"When I was roaming the world, you were probably herding sheep on some pasture..."

Yuheng also spat, stood beside Yaoguang, and spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"What else can you lackeys do besides bullying the weak with numbers?"

Xue Sui quickly calculated in his mind.

Outnumbered and outgunned, a direct confrontation is not the best strategy.

Her gaze swept over Yaoguang, Yuheng, and the others, then she glanced at the approaching Xiz soldiers and made a decisive decision.

"We'll split up and break through later... You guys protect our senior brother and go first, I'll cover the rear."

"Thirteen, you underestimate us." Yao Guang held her sword horizontally across her chest, her words resolute. "There are no cowards in the Old Mausoleum Swamp—when the Big Dipper appears, its starlight obscures the sun, and wherever our swords point, nothing can stand in its way..."

Xue Sui was startled.

The Big Dipper Formation is the most proficient combined attack technique among the disciples of the Old Mausoleum. It combines offense and defense and is infinitely versatile. Back then, they relied on this formation to survive in the Old Mausoleum, wading through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and escaping death time and time again.

She looked at Yaoguang, Yuheng, Kaiyang, and several disciples of the Old Mausoleum.

The group exchanged glances and nodded in unison.

At the critical moment of life and death, grudges among fellow disciples are insignificant; survival is the top priority.

"Alright. Disciples of the Old Mausoleum, heed my command—"

Xue Sui's voice was clear and melodious, each word distinct and deliberate: "Form the formation."

Yao Guang, enduring the pain, took up his sword and stepped into position first.

Although Yuheng had a stern face, he did not hesitate to draw his sword and confront the enemy.

"When the Big Dipper appears, its starlight obscures the sun; wherever its sword points, nothing can stand in its way..."

Xue Sui moved swiftly, like a swallow, to the core of the formation, and the other disciples quickly filled in.

In an instant, the Seven Stars Formation appeared, their sword energies intertwined. Although there were fewer than twenty people, they formed a chilling aura. Several of the first Siz soldiers who rushed forward were caught in the sword net, their blood splattering five steps ahead as they staggered and fell to the ground.

"What kind of evil formation is this?"

Balu's expression changed.

He had fought for many years and had never seen such a bizarre combined attack technique.

"Don't be afraid! They outnumber us. If we surround them, none of them will escape... Go!"

The Siz soldiers, relying on their superior numbers, swarmed in again.

However, the Big Dipper Formation is complementary and has almost no flaws. Furthermore, the disciples of the Old Mausoleum Swamp have been practicing swordsmanship together for many years, so their moves are familiar, and their offense and defense are coordinated to the extreme.

A single glance, a single gesture, and the next move is known.

Xue Sui's swordsmanship was cunning and ruthless, targeting vital points. Although Yao Guang was injured, he fought with wide, sweeping strokes, holding his ground. Yu Heng poured all his pent-up resentment into his sword, each move deadly.

The formation activated, with each element responding to the others, effectively holding back an enemy force several times its size.

Blood splattered continuously onto the withered grass and gravel, the battle was fierce.

"Senior Brother Yaoguang, fill in the Kan position!"

Xue Sui caught a glimpse of a soldier launching a sneak attack and quickly warned him.

Yao Guang stabbed his opponent in the shoulder with a backhand thrust, and replied with a laugh, "I know."

"Senior Sister Yuheng, leave the fire, advance three times!" Xue Sui shouted again.

Yuheng stepped forward in response, sweeping his longsword to force back two soldiers, but said, "Enough with the nonsense!"

"The seven stars revolve, twist—" Xue Sui gave the order, and the formation suddenly changed, moving like stars, fast and ruthless, forcing the surrounding soldiers to retreat repeatedly. Balu was increasingly alarmed as he watched.

They thought it would be a piece of cake, but they couldn't break through after a long siege, and their elite troops suffered heavy losses.

If the fight continues, the outcome will be reversed...

He grew impatient and, steeling himself, gave the order.

"Archers, prepare! Capture Princess Mayila—the King will reward you handsomely!"

He was reluctant to use a bow and arrow unless absolutely necessary, for fear of accidentally killing Xue Sui and having a hard time explaining it to the king...

But his men were suffering more and more casualties. If they didn't break through the formation soon, they would be routed and unable to report back. Not only would they be unable to do so, but they might also lose their heads.

Upon receiving the order, the archers in the back row immediately drew their bows, nocked arrows, and aimed them at the crowd.

"stop--"

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats grew louder as it approached from afar—

The young boy, his face filled with anxiety, galloped over on horseback, followed by more than ten loyal wolf guards left behind by Prince Morile, including Xue Sui's two attendants whom he had taken with him.

"Baru!" Anglerma called out, his voice carrying an air of authority.

"Who gave you permission to hurt my aunt?"

Balu was taken aback, then immediately frowned and bowed.

"Young Master, this humble general is carrying out His Majesty's orders..."

“I don’t care about your fate.” Ang raised his small face, his eyes sharp as those of a wolf cub that had just learned to hunt, bright and piercing.

“Aunt Mayila is of royal lineage and is also my own aunt. You attacked her without any evidence, which is blasphemy… a desecration of the Wolf God!”

Baru squinted and said urgently, "Young Master, Princess Mayila has trespassed into the forbidden area with foreign spies. She is a traitor to Xiz..."

“You are the traitor!” Despite his young age, Angge showed no fear, pointing his scimitar directly at Balu, and shouted, “I saw with my own eyes your men sneaking around my aunt, with ill intentions. I also heard you telling Harbala’s men that you wanted to capture my aunt and coerce the Emperor of Liang…”

Balu's expression changed drastically in an instant.

"Young prince, you don't understand the affairs of adults. Go back to the royal court..."

"Shut up!" Ang snorted, raising his chin at the wolf guards behind him.

"Wolf Guards, heed my command, protect the princess."

The wolf guards that Ang brought were all battle-hardened elites, each one agile and skilled. Upon hearing this, they immediately drew their swords and charged forward.

Baru shouted angrily, "Stop them! Don't ruin the King's important plans..."

The Siz soldiers hesitated slightly, somewhat reluctant to advance.

Seizing the opportunity, Xue Sui darted out like lightning, his longsword flashing as he precisely struck a centurion in front of Balu. Yao Guang and Yu Heng simultaneously exerted their strength, forcing back Balu's personal guards...

Ang immediately spurred his horse forward, his scimitar flashing, and held it to Balu's neck.

"Tie them up!" Ang shouted.

Balu's face was ashen. He was tightly bound by the wolf guards and began to curse loudly.

With their commander captured, the group was leaderless. The remaining soldiers, fearing Ang's identity, laid down their weapons and dared not move again.

Xue Sui sheathed his sword and smiled at Angge.

"Well done, just like a true Sidson warrior."

Angge jumped off his horse and ran to Xue Sui's side.

"Auntie, are you okay?"

Xue Sui shook his head, not having time to thank him, and hurriedly turned back to check on Tian Shu's injuries.

Although his wound was simply bandaged, he had lost too much blood and had been jostled around, so his condition was not good.

She took out some wound medicine from her bag and re-bandaged his wound. "We have to leave here as soon as possible. Senior Brother is badly injured. It will be dangerous if we delay any longer."

Angge decisively said, "Aunt, let your senior brother go to my villa outside the city first. It's very secluded there, and there are medicinal herbs available. It's absolutely safe."

Xue Sui patted his shoulder forcefully.

"Good lad! Your aunt owes you one more time."

Ang scratched the back of his head, revealing a hint of youthful shyness.

“My father said that family members must protect each other. Aunt, let’s go quickly to avoid any further complications.”

Xue Sui nodded.

Without delay, the group, with Balu and Tian Shu in tow, sped toward Chishui City.

Ang took the lead, running ahead to clear the way, occasionally looking back warily. His composure and courage were beyond his years.

Throughout the journey, Xue Sui felt uneasy.

Now that Turgutai has taken action, he will not let it go.

She sent a nimble wolf guard ahead to infiltrate Chishui City and gather information.

When they arrived at the villa, they had just finished treating Tian Shu's injuries when the wolf guards they had sent to gather information hurriedly returned.

"Princess, something terrible has happened."

His face was grave, and he replied breathlessly, "The old palace is surrounded, and Princess Ayinur, along with the princess's maid, have all been taken away by the king's men..."

(End of this chapter)