Druid Fairy

Chapter 157 Good News
The Great Yu Dynasty and the Great Qian Dynasty had been stationing troops on the border for quite some time.

The two countries are evenly matched in strength, and their border is like a bloody millstone, littered with broken swords and countless bones.

The blood on Li Yuanhu's face had dried. He looked up at the elegant immortal hanging in the sky—Sun Yu, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Great Qian Dynasty.

Sun Yu, dressed in white, stood before the army, a jade flute at his lips. The melodious sound of the flute pierced through the wind and snow, resounding through the sky.

The sound of the flute was plaintive and yearning, like weeping and lamenting, which made many soldiers in the Dayu army think of their wives and children back home. They lost all their fighting spirit and burst into tears.

"You mere Huan Yin dare to show off your limited skills before this general?!"

Inside the commander's tent, Zhao Kuo roared and took a step forward.

Although he was stubborn and self-willed, he was a genuine Foundation Establishment cultivator. How could he tolerate the other party being so arrogant in front of him?
His body was filled with blood energy and murderous aura. A domineering and fierce aura transformed into a tangible sound wave, carrying immense force, and rushed straight towards Sun Yu!

A hint of surprise flashed in Sun Yu's eyes. He retreated quickly, tapping his jade flute repeatedly to produce layers of sound waves, barely managing to block the attack, but he looked somewhat disheveled.

Zhao Kuo had the upper hand, and a hint of contempt crept onto his face.

"Hmph, those are nothing but low-level tricks to deceive people!" His attacks became even more ferocious. "Watch me make sure you, pretty boy, are splattered with blood on the spot today!"

Although the opponent's techniques were profound, they were ultimately defeated by absolute power.

Zhao Kuo pressed closer and closer, but Sun Yu showed no sign of panic. He calmly used his flute to defend himself while subtly changing the tune.

The high-pitched, murderous sounds gradually faded away, replaced by a strange melody that was both sacred and compassionate.

"Ok?"

Zhao Kuo keenly sensed something was amiss, but his long-standing pride and the advantage he had just gained made him underestimate his opponent, dismissing it as a last-ditch effort.

"Playing tricks!" He activated his magical weapon, a tiger-headed spear, and was about to pierce Sun Yu along with his flute!
Just then, Sun Yu's flute music changed again, transforming into thousands of crystal-clear jade lotuses.

The jade lotus slowly bloomed in the air, seemingly beautiful and harmless, yet its holy radiance carried a terrifying power of dissolving.

The magical artifact began to disintegrate at a speed visible to the naked eye the moment it came into contact with the jade lotus!
"What!?"

Zhao Kuo was so shocked that he fell silent.

He underestimated his opponent, never expecting that the opponent's magic would be so bizarre.

Before he could react, Sun Yu's figure appeared before him like a ghost, and a jade lotus lightly touched his brow.

It seemed powerless, yet so heavy that he couldn't breathe, let alone dodge.

"puff!"

Zhao Kuo was struck dumb, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he slammed heavily onto the command platform, shattering the command desk, which was made from a single massive stone, into pieces.

When the commander-in-chief is defeated, the morale of the army wavers, and the army collapses like a house of cards.

The Great Yu army was completely defeated. The soldiers abandoned their armor and weapons, wishing they had two more legs, and fled for their lives in the wind and snow.

Li Yuanhu's heart skipped a beat. There was a world of difference between a rout and a retreat. This was no different from sending them to their deaths!
Even in retreat, there are still retreating military formations.

He exchanged a glance with Wang Lie, then calmly gave the order to gather their men and the remaining soldiers, and retreat in an orderly manner amidst the turbulent current.

…………

Inside the central command tent, the atmosphere was so oppressive it could drip water.

Zhao Kuo sat in the main seat, his face deathly pale, his clothes already stained red with blood.

The generals under the tent were all silent, too terrified to even raise their heads.

If you can't beat them, what can you do?
That was a renowned Foundation Establishment cultivator, a figure akin to a terrestrial immortal!

Zhao Kuo's gaze swept over everyone. He knew that he was partly responsible for the defeat due to his underestimation of the enemy and his recklessness, but he would never admit it.

He needed to divert his anger, and even more so, he needed to suppress those who had distinguished themselves in this battle and might pose a threat to him.

“Li Yuanhu, your troops survived this battle unscathed, with very few casualties, which shows you have some skill.” Zhao Kuo’s tone was unreadable, yet it sent a chill down the spines of the generals in the tent.

Li Yuanhu slowly clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice steady: "Reporting to the general, this humble general is merely following your orders, proceeding cautiously and steadily, and daring not to advance rashly."

"What a fine example of steady and methodical approach!"

Zhao Kuo said coldly, "Since you are so steady and capable of shouldering great responsibilities, the task of covering the rear during the army's retreat is entrusted to you!"

When these words were spoken, everyone in the tent was shocked.

With the army on the verge of defeat, sending them to cover the rear is not a sign of trust, it's clearly suicide!

Wang Lie could no longer contain himself and suddenly stood up. "General! This order is inappropriate! The enemy's morale is far superior to ours, several times greater. This is tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock, a pointless suicide mission!"

"Insolence!" Zhao Kuo roared. "With this general here, who gives you the right to speak?!"

He looked at Li Yuanhu, "What? Commandant Li, are you going to disobey orders?"

An overwhelming killing intent slowly rose from the depths of Li Yuanhu's heart.

"Uncle is right. Sometimes, if you can't solve the problem, you should eliminate the person who created it."

The veins on the back of his hand bulged as he pondered how to "solve" the situation; Zhao Kuo was now seriously injured...

Just then, a clear voice rang out outside the tent without warning.

"General Zhao has quite the airs of an official."

Before the words were finished, the curtain of the tent moved without wind, a golden light flashed, and a young cultivator dressed in a silver-white flying fish robe, with a jade pendant at his waist and a golden scroll in his hand, appeared out of thin air inside the tent.

The newcomer was handsome and had an elegant demeanor. Just by standing there, he exuded a powerful aura emanating from the central government of the dynasty, causing everyone present to feel a sense of unease.

"You...why are you here!?" Zhao Kuo's pupils shrank suddenly.

The young cultivator ignored him, and slowly unfurled the golden scroll in his hand. His voice was calm, yet it resounded throughout the entire military camp.

"By order of the Ministry of War, and by the decree of the Immortal Master of the Nation: Commander-in-Chief Zhao Kuo, due to his mismanagement that led to the army's defeat, is hereby stripped of his command and escorted back to the capital to await further judgment!"

"What!?"

Zhao Kuo was struck dumb, frozen in place, his face filled with disbelief.

"No! Impossible!" he screamed, "I am a Foundation Establishment cultivator, an official appointed by the imperial court! You cannot..."

"Noisy."

The young cultivator frowned slightly, then casually waved his hand.

An irresistible force came, and Zhao Kuo was as if he were grabbed by an invisible hand, unable to move or even make a sound.

The young cultivator then turned his gaze to the people inside the tent, finally settling on Li Yuanhu. A barely perceptible hint of approval flashed in his deep eyes.

"I have heard about the battles at Luanshigang and Yixiantian. Lieutenant Li, you are quite good."

He put away the scroll and announced loudly, "From this moment forward, all troops in the Luanshigang battle zone will be temporarily under the command of Captain Li Yuanhu! All spoils of war will be given to the soldiers under his command as rewards! Anyone who fights bravely in this battle will be promoted one rank and rewarded with one hundred taels of silver!"

"Furthermore, I hereby order Li Yuanhu to immediately accompany me to the central command tent to discuss a grand strategy for defeating the enemy!"

His words were concise and to the point, clearly distinguishing between reward and punishment.

A deafening cheer erupted from the entire army.

"The general is mighty!"

"Commander Li is mighty!" The soldiers who had been dejected before now straightened their backs, their morale restored, and their fighting spirit soared.

Wang Lie was so excited that his face turned red, and he patted Li Yuanhu's shoulder hard, "Good lad! I knew it! I knew you were no ordinary person!"

Li Yuanhu's emotions were also in turmoil.

He looked at the extraordinary young cultivator and was filled with awe.

His words became law; a single word could decide the life and death of ten thousand men, and a single order could command the generals of the three armies!
This is true power!

…………

Inside the central command tent, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

The silver-clad celestial official who called himself "Xu Hanzhou" was quietly looking at the sand table, his fingers occasionally pointing at it, as if he were playing a game of chess.

"Lieutenant Li, you've arrived."

Without looking up, he said calmly, "What are your thoughts on the current battle situation?"

Li Yuanhu composed himself and recounted his observations and opinions of the enemy army over the past few days in detail.

He didn't embellish or exaggerate; he simply presented the most accurate facts in the most concise language, providing an objective analysis.

Xu Hanzhou listened quietly, the look of approval in his eyes growing stronger.

"good."

Xu Hanzhou smiled slightly, a hint of intimacy in his smile. "I've heard about your Li family's affairs. To be honest, I'm very curious about what kind of environment could nurture such outstanding brothers like you."

He changed the subject, his expression turning serious: "However, the current situation is still far from optimistic. Sun Yu of the Great Qian Dynasty is indeed a formidable opponent. Not only is his cultivation profound, but his military tactics are also cunning and unpredictable."

He pointed to Eagle's Sorrow Cliff on the sand table, "This place is the enemy's vital passage, and also the only route for their supplies and provisions. Zhao Kuo sent you to attack it, which was sending you to your death. But I am sending you to cut off their lifeline!"

A cold, murderous glint flashed in Xu Hanzhou's eyes.

"I will personally lead the Xuanjia Army in a feigned attack on the main battlefield to draw away the enemy's main force. You, on the other hand, will lead your elite troops to bypass the enemy lines and launch a surprise attack on Eagle's Sorrow Cliff, burning their supplies! Are you confident in your ability to accomplish this?"

This plan is undeniably bold.

If successful, it could turn the tide of the entire battle.

However, if they fail, Li Yuanhu and his more than a thousand brothers will be surrounded by the enemy and have no chance of survival.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Yuanhu clasped his hands in acceptance.

Fortune favors the bold, and the brave prevail when paths cross!

…………

Three days later, at night, a torrential downpour began.

Xu Hanzhou personally led the main force of the Dayu army and launched a fierce attack on the front line of the Chiyan army.

In an instant, the sounds of battle shook the heavens, and flames soared into the sky, illuminating the entire night sky as if it were daytime.

Just as everyone's attention was drawn to the main battlefield, a light cavalry force of less than a thousand men, taking advantage of the cover of night and rain, like a group of ghosts, silently bypassed several lines of enemy defense and went straight into their heartland—Eagle Sorrow Cliff!

The one leading them was Li Yuanhu.

He used Tree Breathing, lay on the horse's back, and suppressed his aura to the extreme.

The soldiers behind him followed suit, wrapping their horses' hooves in thick cotton cloth, making almost no sound on the muddy road.

"My lord, Eagle's Sorrow Cliff is just ahead!" a scout quietly reported.

Li Yuanhu looked up and saw in the distance, in the darkness, the outline of a cliff that looked like a giant beast lurking in the night.

The cliff was brightly lit, and the figures of patrolling soldiers could be vaguely seen.

"Proceed according to plan!" Li Yuanhu ordered in a deep voice.

Wang Lie and his men, who had been lying in ambush at the foot of the cliff, immediately lit their "thunderbolts" and threw them fiercely at the most densely packed camps of the defending troops on the cliff!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A series of explosions rang out, and flames shot into the sky, illuminating the entire Eagle's Sorrow Cliff as bright as day.

The guards on the cliff were thrown into chaos. They never dreamed that on such a stormy night, someone would launch a surprise attack from the place they thought was the least likely to be attacked!

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"Quickly! To the granary! Protect the grain!"

The entire camp was in complete chaos, with countless soldiers rushing out of their tents and surging haphazardly toward the granary.

"Now's the time! Charge with me!"

Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Li Yuanhu took the lead, leading his cavalry, which had been poised for battle, like a red-hot dagger, and plunged fiercely into the enemy's chaotic formation!

The battle erupted in an instant!

Li Yuanhu's goal was very clear: not to kill the enemy, but... to set fire!
He pulled out several earthenware jars filled with kerosene from his pocket and threw them forcefully at the mountain of grain and fodder.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The rocket followed closely behind, instantly setting the entire grain silo ablaze!
A raging fire shot into the sky amidst the torrential rain, turning half the night sky red.

"The granary is on fire! Help! Put out the fire!"

The Crimson Flame Army was completely panicked. Without food, the army would scatter. At this moment, they no longer cared about chasing Li Yuanhu and the others, and rushed towards the sea of ​​fire like madmen.

Li Yuanhu, meanwhile, had already led his men out of Eagle Sorrow Cliff amidst the chaos and disappeared into the vast rainy night.

…………

The grain and fodder at Eagle's Sorrow Cliff were burned, and the morale of the Red Flame Army was thrown into chaos.

Xu Hanzhou seized the opportunity and immediately launched a general offensive.

Besieged on all sides, the Chiyan Army suffered a crushing defeat, and Sun Yu, the "Jade-Faced Immortal Lord" of the Daqian Dynasty, fled in a sorry state under the desperate protection of his personal guards.

In this battle, the Great Yu Dynasty achieved a great victory, completely reversing the decline on the border and gaining the upper hand in the struggle for the spirit stone mine.

Li Yuanhu also made great contributions by launching a surprise attack on Yingchou Cliff.

The good news reached the prefectural capital, Yunshui County, and Peach Blossom Village.

The Li family mansion was filled with joy, a topic of much discussion among the villagers of Taohua.

Li Ping'an was repeatedly invited to banquets by the officials of the prefecture, and for a time, he was the center of attention.

Li Pingcan, on the other hand, remained in his cave in Lingshan, oblivious to the commotion outside.

He looked at the "good news" written by Li Ping'an himself in his hand, but his face showed little joy. Instead, he sighed softly.

"This chaotic world has only just begun."

He turned his gaze toward the more distant capital of the Great Yu Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)