At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

As the setting sun dipped westward, its crimson glow spilled across the vast wilderness stretching for miles behind the Yan army's camp.

The north wind whipped up the yellow sand of the border, sweeping across the endless black military tents. The black bird patterns embroidered on the tent flags fluttered in the wind, carrying a chilling and fierce aura that seemed to be invading the territory of the Great Qian.

Inside the central command tent, the atmosphere was as still as an abyss.

Fang Xingye sat cross-legged on the futon, his eyes lightly closed, his black clothes neat and tidy, surrounded by the unique cold aura of the Dark Night Guard.

He was the deputy commander of the Yan Kingdom's Dark Night Guard, holding a high position and having long been in charge of the Yan Kingdom's most secretive intelligence and assassination forces. He was deep in thought and never showed his emotions.

At this moment, he was thinking...

It's been a day and a night.

After Murong Di led over 100,000 elite cavalry of the Yan Kingdom to break through the first line of defense of Duanyun Pass and enter the pass in force, battle reports from Duanyun Pass were transmitted back to the rear intermittently, but there was never any news of the final fall of the city.

Fang Xingye waited patiently.

He was waiting for the news of victory, the kind of earth-shattering victory that would reshape the world and propel the Yan Kingdom to the top.

As a native of Yan, he knew better than anyone the predicament of the Yan state.

The land of Yan is barren, with harsh weather and scarce resources. It is constantly plagued by sandstorms and extreme cold. The people toil all year round, barely managing to make ends meet. Among all the states in the world, Yan has always been weak and has been suppressed by the Great Qian for many years. It can only live in a remote corner of the north and depend on others for survival.

But this time, as he marched north and entered the territory of the Great Qian Dynasty, what he saw and heard during the short half-month march completely shocked him.

The vast land of Daqian boasts thousands of miles of fertile plains, boundless plains, and crisscrossing rivers, nourishing this fertile land.

The route is lined with villages and towns, vast fields of fertile land, mulberry and hemp fields, and bustling markets with constant trade, and countless silks, satins and rare treasures.

Even the three southern states were far more prosperous and wealthy than the most prosperous capital of Yan.

This truly reflects the grandeur of a celestial empire.

With its vast territory, abundant resources, flourishing culture, and ample military strength, Yan was a prosperous and magnificent nation that far surpassed the harsh and remote southern border of the entire country.

Fang Xingye's heart was already filled with endless greed and covetousness.

If the Yan Kingdom wins this battle, it can flatten Duanyun Pass in one fell swoop, advance straight in, and gradually devour half of the Great Qian Kingdom's territory, occupying this fertile land and prosperous land. Then the Yan Kingdom can completely get rid of the poverty and hardship of the past few centuries, shed its humble background as a small border country, and transform into a top power that dominates the nine provinces, awes the world, and reigns supreme!

To this end, he did not hesitate to personally lead his team deep behind enemy lines, risking his life to carry out the secret orders of the Prince of Yan, and spare no effort to capture Emperor Xiao Jinghuan of the Great Qian Dynasty alive, so as to seize control of the Great Qian Dynasty's lifeline and coordinate with the offensive of the front-line army to completely undermine the Great Qian Dynasty's will to resist.

With this thought in mind, a chilling glint of ambition flashed in Fang Xingye's eyes, and his aura became increasingly heavy and focused.

All that's needed is for news of the fall of Duanyun Pass to arrive, and everything will be settled.

Just as he was calmly awaiting news of victory, a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps suddenly sounded outside the tent, accompanied by the extremely panicked shouts of the guards, instantly shattering the deathly silence inside.

"My lord! My lord! Wake up immediately! It's a matter of utmost importance! A matter of life and death!"

The urgent shouts pierced through the tent flaps, carrying an undisguised tremor, revealing that the messenger was already in a state of utter confusion.

Fang Xingye suddenly opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them, and the dormant ferocity around him instantly subsided, restoring his calm and composed demeanor.

He slowly rose, his robes fluttering slightly, showing no sign of panic, and strode out of the tent in a deep voice.

The sunlight outside the tent was blinding. Several black-clad Night Guards stood bowed, their faces pale and their breathing disordered, clearly having rushed there in a frenzy and still shaken.

"What's all this commotion about?" Fang Xingye's voice was cold and carried the imposing authority of a superior.

The leading Dark Guard knelt and kowtowed, his face flushed with urgency as he looked up, speaking rapidly: "My lord! The Emperor of the Great Qian... has awakened!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xingye raised an eyebrow, and the taut string in his heart suddenly relaxed a little, but a wave of fear instantly surged up.

He was ordered by the Prince of Yan to capture Emperor Xiao Jinghuan of the Great Qian Dynasty at great risk. His biggest mission was to bring this supreme ruler of the Great Qian Dynasty back to Yanjing alive as the biggest bargaining chip to blackmail the Great Qian Dynasty.

Yesterday on the battlefield, Murong Di used Xiao Jinghuan as a hostage to force the garrison of Duanyun Pass to surrender. At the critical moment, Xiao Yunche drew his bow and shot an arrow that pierced through Xiao Jinghuan's shoulder armor, interrupting Murong Di's coercive plan and causing Xiao Jinghuan to be seriously injured and fall into a coma on the spot.

That arrow was swift and decisive, showing absolutely no mercy.

He was watching the battle from the sidelines and witnessed the breathtaking scene. At that moment, he was shocked and almost thought that the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty was going to die on the spot.

If Xiao Jinghuan were to die in the chaos of battle, the Yan Kingdom's years of planning and desperate execution of its mission would be completely in vain, and might even enrage the King of Yan, bringing about his own demise.

It can be said that Xiao Yunche's arrow almost ruined all his plans and nearly brought him to his doom.

Even today, Fang Xingye still feels lingering fear when he recalls the resolute act of that arrow piercing his heart.

"Let's go take a look!"

Fang Xingye suppressed his thoughts and gave the order in a cold voice.

Several Night Guards quickly got up and led him to the royal prisoner-of-war camp not far away.

This camp was heavily guarded by the Night Guards, with sentries every five steps and posts every ten steps, making it extremely secure and preventing anyone from approaching at will.

As the heavy tent flap was lifted, a strong smell of medicine and blood wafted out, mixed with the weak aura of a long-term patient, permeating the entire camp.

Xiao Jinghuan lay quietly on the bed.

The once majestic and awe-inspiring emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty has long lost even the slightest trace of his former supreme status.

His face was ashen, devoid of any color, his lips were dry and cracked, and his brows were filled with deep fatigue and haggardness. The arrow wound on his left shoulder was hastily bandaged, and the white bandage was already soaked with dark red blood, with faint traces of blood seeping out.

A day and a night in a coma had almost drained him of all his energy. He was frail and weak, and seemed on the verge of dying at any moment.

But those eyes, which were originally dim, were now open, their gaze clear and bright, with a hint of unfathomable brilliance.

Inside the tent, only an old eunuch who had served him for many years stood with his hands at his sides, his eyes full of heartache, but he dared not say a word.

Fang Xingye walked slowly to the bedside, looking down at the Emperor of Daqian, who had become a prisoner. A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes, and a sarcastic smile appeared on his lips.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his tone icy, filled with undisguised mockery: "Emperor Xiao, you've finally decided to wake up."

"You're really lucky to be alive."

"Yesterday on the battlefield, your own son Xiao Yunche shot an arrow through your shoulder with fierce force and chilling killing intent, showing no regard for your imperial status and no fatherly affection whatsoever."

That arrow almost took your life.

Fang Xingye leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Xiao Jinghuan, his words piercing to the heart: "Everyone says that royal fathers and sons have deep affection, and that the emperor is the father of heaven, but in my opinion, you, as the emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, have been a complete failure."

"As an emperor, he couldn't protect his empire; as a father, he didn't earn the respect of his children."

"In your son's heart, is your life, your father's, worth less than an inch of the Duan Yun Pass wall? How pathetic, how lamentable!"

These words were sharp and sarcastic, full of irony, and every word hit the mark. Even an ordinary prisoner would feel grief and indignation upon hearing them.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinghuan, who was lying on the bed, showed no anger or indignation. Instead, he slowly curled his lips into a weak yet incredibly genuine and proud smile.

His breath was weak, his voice hoarse and dry, yet each word was firm and resounding: "Yes... I am indeed a failed father."

Fang Xingye's mockery deepened, and he was about to continue his sarcasm when Xiao Jinghuan suddenly changed the subject, his eyes suddenly shining brightly with endless satisfaction and pride.

"But I have the best son in the world!"

Upon hearing this, the tent fell silent instantly.

Fang Xingye's sarcastic expression froze abruptly, his face filled with astonishment, completely unexpected to receive this answer.

Xiao Jinghuan slowly turned his head, gazing at the distant Duanyun Pass outside the tent. His cloudy eyes churned with extremely complex emotions: guilt, regret, heartache, and even more so, a surge of pride.

Yesterday on the battlefield, Xiao Yunche drew his bow and nocked an arrow. Facing his own father, who was being held hostage by the enemy, and the condemnation of the world for his filial impiety, he still resolutely and decisively pierced the sky with his arrow.

That arrow wasn't aimed at the emperor, but at cowardice, compromise, and the hidden danger of national subjugation!

That arrow protected the prestige of the Great Qian Dynasty, the integrity of the border, the bottom line of tens of thousands of soldiers, and the peace and stability of millions of people in the Great Qian Dynasty!

From the moment that sharp arrow shot out, Xiao Jinghuan completely understood his third son.

Everyone thought Xiao Yunche was cold-hearted, ruthless, and unfilial, but only his father, the emperor, was completely enlightened at this moment.

His son never harbored narrow-minded father-son affections; his heart was filled with thoughts of the nation and all its people!

For the sake of the Great Qian Dynasty's land and the safety of the people on the border, he was willing to bear the infamy of patricide and be despised by the world, protecting the country with his own body and guarding the pass with his arrows!

Such magnanimity, such spirit, such integrity far surpasses my own back then!

At this thought, endless regret overwhelmed Xiao Jinghuan's mind like a tidal wave.

He regretted it!

He regretted his foolishness and incompetence back then, his infatuation with beauty, his belief in the slander of the wicked concubine Xu Jinniang, and his listening to the instigation of treacherous officials, which led to the death of Yun Che's birth mother and the betrayal of his beloved.

She regretted neglecting her son by failing to distinguish right from wrong and sending the innocent young Xiao Yunche to a remote and harsh border region, forcing him to guard Duanyun Pass at a young age, fight bloody battles, suffer countless hardships, and bear countless grievances and criticisms!

Over the years, he has wronged his son far too much.

Even so, his son never resented the country, never betrayed his family, and always guarded the country's gates, wearing armor to defend the border, protecting the vast land that Xiao Jinghuan had ruled for half his life with his own flesh and blood!

Xiao Jinghuan's eyes reddened slightly, his hoarse voice trembling with a sob, as he murmured to himself again and again, his tone filled with an undisguised burning pride:

"I have lived a muddle-headed life, failing to judge people and managing my household well; I am a failed ruler and father..."

"But how fortunate I, Xiao Jinghuan, am to have such a precious son as Yun Che!"

"I have a good son... My Great Qian Dynasty has a good prince!"

Looking at Xiao Jinghuan, who was not only not angry but also full of pride, Fang Xingye felt it was utterly absurd. The sarcasm in his heart grew stronger. He thought that the old emperor had been seriously injured and unconscious, and that he was just deluding himself after waking up.

He snorted coldly, his tone icy and piercing, shattering Xiao Jinghuan's sense of relief: "It's nothing but self-deception! What use is a good son, no matter how good he is?"

"Do you think that Xiao Yunche's single arrow, though valiant, can reverse the tide of battle? Can it avert defeat?"

Fang Xingye raised his hand and pointed towards the direction outside the pass, his tone filled with an arrogant confidence of certain victory: "Duan Yun Pass has already been breached by our Yan Kingdom's hundreds of thousands of elite troops. The defenses inside the pass have completely collapsed, and our iron cavalry has entered the pass with unstoppable momentum!"

"Xiao Yunche is probably already surrounded and trapped by our army."

"Within half a day, he will become a dead man under General Murong Di's spear!"

"Your proud son will soon die on the battlefield! Your vast empire, with its gates breached and no longer protected, will soon fall entirely into the territory of my Yan Kingdom!"

"By then, with the country destroyed, the family ruined, and the ancestral temples overthrown, what use will your pride, as a prisoner emperor, be?"

The sharp words echoed throughout the camp, carrying an overwhelming confidence, as if the destruction of the Great Qian Dynasty was already a foregone conclusion.

But after hearing this, Xiao Jinghuan showed no panic on his face. Instead, he smiled slowly, his smile calm and confident, carrying the composure of an emperor who had been accumulating experience for half his life.

He breathed slightly, his gaze calmly fixed on the arrogant and domineering Fang Xingye, his tone indifferent: "Fang Xingye, you have long been in the heart of my Great Qian, traversing its mountains and rivers, and have personally witnessed the prosperous foundation of my Great Qian."

"Do you really think that with just a few hundred thousand Yan troops under Murong Di's command, breaking through Duanyun Pass, you can flatten my vast empire? You really think you can destroy the Great Qian Dynasty, which has lasted for hundreds of years?"

"That's wishful thinking!"

Although Xiao Jinghuan was seriously injured and weak, his words still carried the majestic aura of an emperor, each word resounding: "Our Great Qian has a territory of ten thousand miles, a million soldiers, countless loyal ministers and generals, and an unfathomable foundation."

"The fall of a border post is merely a superficial wound, not a fundamental injury!"

"Even if my Yun Che is temporarily trapped, even if the border suffers a setback, my Great Qian still has a towering pillar guarding the nation's gates!"

At this point, Xiao Jinghuan's eyes suddenly sharpened, staring intently at Fang Xingye, and he said in a deep voice, enunciating each word clearly, "Fang Xingye, have you forgotten that our Great Qian still has a War God who protects the nation!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the air inside the tent seemed to freeze instantly.

The War God Who Protects the Nation, Su Mu!

This name is a legend known and feared by everyone in the entire Great Qian Dynasty!

At the age of one hundred, he protected the stability of the Great Qian Dynasty and deterred the barbarian tribes from invading. He was the true pillar of stability for the Great Qian Dynasty!

Fang Xingye's expression darkened slightly, and a hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes, but it quickly turned into a disdainful sneer.

His face was full of disdain as he coldly retorted, "Su Mu? He's nothing but a centenarian clinging to life!"

"When a person lives to be a hundred years old, their bones and muscles decay, their vital energy declines, and they are no longer as vigorous as they once were."

"What storms can an old man in his twilight years stir up? Do you really think that a mere mortal, half-buried in the ground, can withstand the might of my Yan Kingdom's million-strong army and protect your Great Qian from its downfall? Xiao Jinghuan, you're simply deluding yourself!"

In his view, even the strongest war god cannot withstand the erosion of time.

The centenarian was no longer capable of fighting; the so-called title of "national protector" was nothing more than an empty name used by the Great Qian Dynasty to intimidate other countries.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinghuan was not angry. He simply shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with absolute certainty.

He stopped arguing and simply uttered five words: "We'll wait and see."

The might of the War God Su can never be proven by mere words.

The true strength of the Great Qian Dynasty was something that a small, border state like the Yan Kingdom could never fathom.

The outcome of a match can be decided in an instant!

Seeing his confident demeanor, Fang Xingye grew increasingly impatient and was about to rebuke him again when suddenly a series of extremely chaotic and frantic footsteps came from outside the tent.

"Bang bang bang..."

The hurried footsteps approached from afar, carrying the panic of the entire army's defeat, and struck everyone's hearts hard.

The next second, a Night Guard covered in dust, with crooked armor and disheveled hair, stumbled into the tent without even announcing his arrival. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud, panting heavily, his face ashen, and his whole body trembling.

He looked up at Fang Xingye, his voice trembling and screaming, filled with extreme terror and despair:

"M-Sir! Something terrible has happened! A terrible thing has occurred!"

"Our army...our Yan army...has been defeated!"

"A complete rout! Hundreds of thousands of elite troops who entered the pass were all driven out of Duanyun Pass by the soldiers of the Great Qian! They were all expelled from the pass!"

"General Murong Di is leading his troops in a chaotic retreat towards our rear camp! The entire army has suffered a crushing defeat! A complete and utter defeat!"

The words were spoken, and a thunderclap resounded!

The entire camp fell into an instant, deathly silence!

The air seemed to be sucked out instantly, leaving a suffocating silence.

Fang Xingye's pupils suddenly contracted, his whole body stiffened, as if struck by lightning, and he froze on the spot, his mind blank, unable to believe his ears!

His eyes widened, and all the arrogance, contempt, and confidence on his face shattered, replaced by utter astonishment and disbelief.

"What did you say?"

Fang Xingye took a step forward, grabbing the guard's collar tightly, his knuckles turning white. His voice suddenly rose, trembling uncontrollably: "Say it again! What exactly happened?!"

"With over 100,000 troops having entered the pass, the defenses of Duan Yun Pass have already been breached. How could they possibly have collapsed in just one day and one night? How could they have been forcibly driven out of the pass?"

That's absolutely impossible!

This completely defies common sense!

Yesterday, he witnessed firsthand the mighty Yan cavalry sweeping into the pass with overwhelming momentum, holding an absolute advantage. The defenders of Duanyun Pass were retreating in defeat. It was clear that the defeat was inevitable. They only needed to attack for a little longer to completely break through the city and seize the strategic pass!

In just one day, the tide turned, and a great victory turned into a crushing defeat.

The kneeling Night Guard, struggling to breathe from being gripped so tightly, still managed a tearful scream: "My lord! It's true! Absolutely true! I saw it with my own eyes!"

"The battlefield inside the pass has completely collapsed. Countless of our soldiers have been killed or wounded, their bodies strewn across the fields. The remaining remnants have fled in disarray, utterly powerless to resist the counterattack of the Daqian defenders!"

"General Murong Di was powerless to reverse the tide and could only lead his remaining troops in retreat; the entire army was utterly defeated!"

boom!

Utter collapse!

Fang Xingye felt a chill run through his body, his hands and feet were ice-cold, and an extreme panic instantly swept over him, shattering all his confidence and arrogance.

He stood there, stunned, his mind reeling. He was completely disoriented and couldn't believe that this long-planned and seemingly inevitable battle in the south had ended in such an absurd and disastrous defeat!

Just then, a loud and extremely joyful laugh suddenly rang out in the tent!

"Hahaha! Good! Good! Good!"

Upon hearing this undeniable news of defeat, Xiao Jinghuan, who was lying in bed, felt all the pent-up frustration, worry, and regret that had been building up for days vanish!

He suddenly propped himself up, his previously weak body now seemingly infused with boundless strength. His chest straightened, his eyes shone brightly, and his laughter echoed throughout the tent, so hearty and unrestrained that it made the tent flaps tremble slightly!

"Fang Xingye! How is it!"

"You were just spouting arrogant words and being extremely sarcastic, but reality has already given you a harsh slap in the face!"

Xiao Jinghuan's gaze was sharp as a blade as he stared intently at Fang Xingye, whose face was pale and who looked utterly lost. His words were firm and resounding, carrying the awe-inspiring and domineering air of an emperor who was about to triumph!

"Our Great Qian soldiers, with their iron will and unparalleled loyalty, guard the borders. How dare you, a mere small nation, invade them at will?"

"In a mere battle, your Yan army of hundreds of thousands suffered a crushing defeat, fleeing in panic like stray dogs!"

"A crushing defeat at the outset, morale shattered. With such pathetic fighting strength, how dare they attempt to devour my Great Qian Dynasty and seize the throne?"

"That's utterly delusional and laughable!"

"I have already said that the foundation of my Great Qian Dynasty is far beyond your comprehension!"

Every sentence was sarcastic, every word a slap in the face!

Fang Xingye was utterly humiliated by these words. Shame, anger, and panic intertwined, instantly overwhelming all his reason.

He suddenly turned his head, his eyes bloodshot, his killing intent surging, and the long sword at his waist was instantly drawn half an inch from its sheath, its sharp edge gleaming coldly.

He stared intently at Xiao Jinghuan on the bed, and roared angrily, "You dog emperor! Stop being so arrogant and smug!"

"It's just a minor defeat; the battle is far from over! If you dare utter another word, I'll cut you down with one stroke today!"

A chilling aura of blades swept over me, radiating a deadly killing intent.

But Xiao Jinghuan showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, a cold, mocking smile appeared on his face, his gaze open and unwavering: "Kill me? Do you dare?"

"I am the hostage that you, the Prince of Yan, designated to capture alive and bring back to Yanjing. I am your only bargaining chip on this trip!"

"If you kill me, the mission will have failed completely, and the blame for the crushing defeat of tens of thousands of Yan soldiers will fall entirely on you!"

"Do you think the bloodthirsty and suspicious Prince Yan would let you go? Would he spare all your Dark Night Guards?"

"Fang Xingye, the situation is hopeless. You can barely protect yourself, and your life is in danger! Instead of spouting nonsense here, you should think about how you defeated generals plan to escape!"

Every word hits the nail on the head!

Fang Xingye's hand holding the knife suddenly paused, the murderous intent in his eyes froze instantly, and his raging anger was forcibly suppressed, replaced by a deep-seated panic.

Yes!

He can't be killed!

Xiao Jinghuan is a bargaining chip. If all the chips are lost, he will be guilty of the crime of defeat and dereliction of duty, and he will not be able to escape the blame even if he dies a hundred times!

Seeing their commander lose his composure, the Night Guard rushed forward, his face filled with anxiety, and hurriedly bowed, pleading, "My lord! Something terrible has happened! It's too late!"

"Our army has suffered a complete rout. General Murong Di is preoccupied with his own problems and has no ability to protect our camp!"

"After their great victory, the soldiers of the Great Qian Dynasty will surely pursue them relentlessly, their iron cavalry charging straight in! If the pursuers arrive and discover His Majesty the Emperor here, they will certainly launch a full-scale attack to rescue him!"

"By then, we will be surrounded and without rescue; we will surely die! My lord, please make a decision quickly!"

The situation has become extremely critical!

The army was defeated like a landslide, the remnants of the army fled in disarray, and the rear defenses were left empty. Their small team guarding the prisoners had become fish on a chopping board!

Fang Xingye was greatly shocked and instantly snapped out of his daze. The arrogance in his eyes vanished, leaving only endless coldness and anxiety.

He gritted his teeth, his face ashen, all traces of his previous composure and smugness gone.

After a brief moment of thought, he made a decisive decision and issued a stern order to kill:

"Pass down the order! Everyone pack your bags immediately!"

"Take Xiao Jinghuan and the accompanying old eunuch, immediately evacuate the camp, and return to Yanjing at full speed, day and night!"

"Set off immediately, without delay!"

At this moment, he no longer had any ambition to conquer the Great Qian Dynasty; all that remained was the urgency to flee for his life.

On the bed, Xiao Jinghuan looked at his flustered and disoriented appearance, and gazed at the direction of the defeated battle outside the tent. The smile on his lips grew stronger, and his eyes were full of satisfaction and pride.

He murmured softly, his voice burning with pride:

"My Yun Che... has indeed lived up to expectations!"

"Truly worthy of being my son!"

"Well done, men of the Great Qian Dynasty!"