"Boom—"
Even though Profound Manifestation cultivators were far below Martial Saints, they were already far beyond the realm of mortals.
Every time the two clashed, the shockwave echoed like thunder. The rain-soaked mud of the wilderness exploded under the tearing pressure of gang qi, sending clods of earth and grass flying into the air.
"Deng Feng!"
Peng Yunheng's mountain-splitting axe locked against the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, both men struggling in a pure contest of gang qi. "The entire southeastern Central Plains calls you a man of loyalty and righteousness! And yet you follow a mere child for the sake of your life? So this is what you are—a pretender chasing fame, a coward afraid of death!"
"Old dog! How dare you insult me?!"
Deng Feng couldn't refute it.
No matter what he said, the title of traitor was already attached to his name.
For too long, he'd been forced to restrain himself—unable to act, forced to play another's role, forbidden even to wield his blade on the battlefield. The frustration had been boiling inside him all this time. Now, faced with the enemy general's insult, he could no longer contain it. His fury erupted completely.
Boom—!
Gang qi surged from the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, taking the shape of a raging tiger that clamped down on the mountain-splitting axe, trying to crush its blade with sheer force.
Across from him, Peng Yunheng's arms trembled violently.
He roared, pouring out all his strength to drive back the surrendered general of Qing. As he retreated step by step, he bellowed, "Cover me!"
"Whizz, whizz, whizz—"
But when he turned around, he froze.
Half of his cavalry was already dead.
Chen Sanshi's arm moved so fast it blurred. The sound of his bowstring was like a musician's zither. Arrow after arrow formed streaks of black light in the air. Riders without shields were shot dead instantly.
Those with shields had their warhorses slain first. When they fell and exposed an opening, they were killed in the next heartbeat. A shield only delayed death by one arrow.
"All Transforming Strength and Meridian-Connecting cultivators—get to the front!" Peng Yunheng roared. "He's alone! Whoever kills the man in white, no matter their realm, shall be granted a marquisate!"
"Kill!"
Under rich reward, courage thrives.
Two lieutenant generals charged ahead with shields. Four Transforming Strength experts followed close behind.
These were Peng Yunheng's elite—handpicked when he went to challenge the city.
"Clang, clang, clang—"
"Ahh—"
Arrows clattered against their shields, metal ringing continuously. Even after their horses fell, the generals leaped up quickly. They were high-ranking martial commanders—without Chen Sanshi retreating to stretch the distance, they soon closed in.
"Chen!" one of them roared. "My marquisate depends on you! Die!"
All seven generals struck from every direction at once.
"Why rush so eagerly," Chen Sanshi said coldly, "to deliver your heads to me?"
"Clang—"
The Mountain-Suppressing Sword was drawn.
Sword light flashed.
Two Transforming Strength heads flew through the air.
On the left, a Meridian-Connecting lieutenant general swung a long guandao in a brutal chop—but his strike was blocked by the great iron-bellied bow in Chen Sanshi's hands.
The bow's limbs were forged from pure black iron, and even its tips bore sharp edges. Wrapped with layers of living internal force, it was no less deadly than a sword. Under the rebound of that immense power, the lieutenant general was hurled backward, bones cracking.
Chen Sanshi moved like lightning. His great bow whirled through the air like a reaper's blade. Each sweep crushed bone and split skulls.
In less than a dozen exchanges, seven or eight mid-to-high-level generals lay dead beneath the hooves of their own mounts.
Then began a one-sided slaughter.
Out of more than 200 riders, by the time they were only 7–8 li from the Great Sheng camp, barely twenty remained alive.
——
On the other side, Deng Feng had caught up with Peng Yunheng again.
His long blade descended like the heavens falling, its blade-qi rolling down like waves, splitting the earth as it came.
"Boom!"
Peng Yunheng raised his axe once more to block—but this time, he had no strength left to protect his mount with gang qi.
The impact shattered the horse's bones into powder. Its four legs snapped and sank deep into the mud.
Losing his steed, Peng Yunheng had no choice but to fight on foot.
Now the advantage of a mounted warrior showed itself—speed, momentum, reach.
Already weaker, Peng Yunheng could barely defend himself.
He unleashed the speed of a Profound Manifestation cultivator, his body blurring into an afterimage as he sprinted desperately ahead. Just one more stretch of land—beyond it lay his army and three fellow Profound Manifestation generals who could save him!
"Help me—!"
His scream echoed across the barren wilderness.
Several li away, the three generals of Profound Manifestation Realm rushing forward with tens of thousands of soldiers heard it clearly.
"Isn't that General Peng's voice?"
Fan Shuzhen frowned deeply. "We sent him only to issue a challenge—how did he end up like this? Is that barehanded general truly so powerful?"
"Damn it!"
Ran Jingxuan's expression darkened. He glanced at his men, who were already whispering nervously. "It's a trap! They lured him away from Hulao Pass on purpose—to make sure everyone could witness his defeat!"
"Impossible!"
You Jingzhi's eyes widened. "Could anyone truly beat General Peng so badly he's begging for help?"
"The whole army will advance!" Fan Shuzhen shouted coldly. "Tell the troops the enemy's main force may be ahead! We'll crush them entirely—if we wipe them out, Hulao Pass will fall by itself!"
"Clatter—"
The army surged up the slope.
At last, from five li away, they saw the battlefield clearly.
But… there was no army.
Only two riders.
One chasing Peng Yunheng.
The other mowing through the remnants of his cavalry.
Two men—against an army of 200—and only seven or eight of the latter remained alive?
"Who are they?!"
Ran Jingxuan's voice was tense. "That man wielding the Azure Dragon Blade—he's not the same one from Silver Pine Cliff!"
"Li Gong lied to me?!"
Fan Shuzhen's teeth ground together. "Then Hulao Pass must have at least three Profound Manifestation generals—and that white-robed Chen Sanshi with his Heavenly Book. As for Fang Qingyun, the Phoenix Chick, who knows what immortal arts Sun Xiangzong left him? With uncertain numbers and divine techniques, how do we fight this?"
"Don't panic, Eighth Prince," You Jingzhi said grimly. He dragged a heavy iron chain from his waist, a Black Armored claw glinting at the end. "It's simple. We keep them here—kill them both, and the rest will crumble!"
Fan Shuzhen's eyes sharpened.
Indeed, these two were far too arrogant.
Just two men… daring to charge into an army of 100,000?
And the terrain here was wide open—no possible ambush.
"Kill!" he roared. "At all costs, stop those two right here!"
Fan Shuzhen shouted toward the troops ahead.
"Old Peng!"
You Jingzhi called out urgently, "Faster—he can't hold on much longer!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Gang qi surged, merging perfectly with the physical force of the body. At first, Peng Yunheng managed to widen the distance between them. But it wasn't sustainable. Soon, the Blue Mane horse caught up again, and within a few more exchanges, Peng Yunheng was already bleeding from several wounds.
One mistake led to another.
On the battlefield, once the first opening appeared, countless more would follow.
Before long, Peng Yunheng's Black Armored armor was in tatters, with over a dozen overlapping cuts bleeding profusely.
'This Deng Feng from Laizhou…'
'He's far more than a Profound Manifestation Major Achievement! He must've already reached Perfection—just one more step, and he'll be a Martial Saint!'
"Boom!"
The Azure Dragon Crescent Blade roared like a real dragon, gripped in Deng Feng's hands. Carrying a mountain-crushing force, it tore apart Peng Yunheng's axe-qi, shattered his protective gang qi, and crashed down like thunder.
The giant axe flew from Peng Yunheng's grip. His body was hurled back over thirty zhang, twisting unnaturally in the air before smashing into the ground. Blood spurted from his mouth.
Before he could take another breath, his enemy was already upon him again.
"Ah!"
Peng Yunheng roared, grabbing a nearby boulder and hurling it wildly before turning and fleeing for his life. Ahead, the countless banners of the Southern Xu army filled the horizon. He could even see Fan Shuzhen and the others within the tide of soldiers.
"Save me!"
"Hurry!"
Ran Jingxuan shouted anxiously.
But it was too late.
Just as the two sides were less than two li apart—
Deng Feng caught up.
"Old dog! Where do you think you're running?!"
The blade fell.
The man perished.
Before tens of thousands of soldiers—right under the gaze of all—their vanguard general, one of the strongest warriors of this campaign, was cleaved cleanly in two. Under the devastating blade qi, half his body exploded into shreds; the other half flew across the muddy ground.
"Clatter—"
The cavalry charging at the front nearly faltered. Some almost stopped dead in their tracks. Only after orders were shouted from behind did they grit their teeth and press forward—but their momentum had already collapsed by a third.
"So many of them?"
Deng Feng eyed the overwhelming wave of cavalry rushing toward them. "Commander Chen, what now?"
"Stay close to me."
"Make sure neither of us gets surrounded, and then…"
"Kill thousands!"
"Hyah!"
Instead of retreating, Chen Sanshi charged straight toward the incoming horde. Only when he was about one li away did he slow his horse, raise his great bow, and unleash a storm of arrows.
He was but one man with one bow, yet his shots filled the sky, the arrows raining down like a black storm upon the dense ranks of the enemy.
"Clatter—"
"Screeech—"
In an instant, more than a dozen riders fell.
Then, Chen Sanshi's voice boomed across the plains.
"I, Chen, was born a hunter! Since joining the army, I've had little chance to hunt. Today, I'll use you hundred thousand pigs and dogs for practice—don't want to lose my old skills!"
Hundred thousand pigs and dogs!
Not just Fan Shuzhen and the three main generals—even the ordinary soldiers felt the sting of humiliation. Rage filled every heart. They wanted nothing more than to tear Chen Sanshi apart.
But their anger was soon drowned out by the rain of arrows.
For every zhang they advanced, seven or eight more men fell dead.
Their fury and shame slowly turned into fear as the bodies piled higher.
"Shields!"
"Shield cavalry to the front!"
Lieutenant generals bellowed orders.
The Southern Xu army quickly adjusted formation.
"Shields?"
Galloping across the wild plain, Chen Sanshi couldn't help but laugh.
With shields raised, Ghost Vein Arrows were indeed less effective—it was hard to pierce through the heavy defense.
But if he couldn't shoot the men…
Couldn't he still shoot the horses?
'Let's see how many mounts you Southern Xu dogs have for me to kill!'
"Buzz—"
The bowstring trembled again.
Horse after horse screamed and collapsed.
Each of those warhorses was a precious resource, bred with great expense and care—every one killed was a loss that couldn't be replaced in months.
Within mere breaths, dozens more horses were dead.
The Southern Xu soldiers quickly realized a horrifying truth—they couldn't catch up at all!
Even with tens of thousands in pursuit, they were trapped a full one li behind, constantly dying to arrows without ever posing a threat.
They were being toyed with—tens of thousands of men being played by two riders!
They truly… had become the hundred thousand pigs and dogs.
At first, they had burned with rage at the insult.
But as time went on, their anger dulled. Eventually, they began to think—perhaps he wasn't wrong.
Weren't they just a herd of pigs and dogs chasing a hunter?
Under the crushing weight of humiliation and slaughter, the entire army of 100,000 lost its will to fight.
The cavalry at the front even slowed deliberately, no longer daring to charge.
No one wanted to die.
Only the elite among elites had the resolve to fight to the death. The rest—no matter how many—would always fear dying, especially when resistance was useless.
If nothing else, they'd rather let those two arrogant bastards come and go as they pleased.
But then, something even more shocking happened.
Those two didn't run.
They stopped.
"Southern Xu scum! Why have you stopped chasing? Chen isn't done having fun yet!"
The white-robed general stood unmoving, still loosing arrows with deadly precision.
"Iron shields! Hurry!"
"Open a path!"
"Hold the line till the generals arrive!"
Tens of thousands of soldiers formed ranks.
Naturally, not all 100,000 could move at once. The ones who'd responded first were the cavalry patrols closest to the camp. The main generals, stationed in the central ranks, were still rushing to catch up.
For now, it fell to the frontline commanders to hold the situation.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
Row after row of Black Armored shields locked together, forming a towering iron wall.
At last, they found some relief from the relentless arrows.
Seeing this, the white-robed general burst out laughing.
"On the grasslands, the barbarians call pigs and dogs Aqina and Saisehei! Looks like you really are purebred Aqina Saisehei! How else could you chase me only to pen yourselves in like pigs in a sty?"
"Deng Feng, tear down their pigsty!"
"Understood!"
The Blue Mane horse surged forward with explosive speed. Deng Feng, alone on horseback, charged straight into the enemy lines. His Azure Dragon Crescent Blade crashed down like a siege hammer, smashing a massive gap through the iron-shield wall that formed their so-called "iron fortress." Once inside, he unleashed unrestrained slaughter—cutting through the dense formation and turning it into chaos. Before the enemy could fully encircle him, he spurred his beast mount again and tore out of the trap.
Once the "pigsty" was torn open, arrows once again filled the sky.
Southern Xu soldiers fell one after another. Even with 100,000 troops, the vanguard soldiers—if not for the thought that their generals were behind them—would have already turned around and fled back to camp.
But at that moment, the three Profound Manifestation generals finally caught up.
"Take my blade!"
You Jingzhi leapt from his horse, soaring more than twenty zhang through the air, barely managing to close the distance. His horse-slaying blade swung down with all his might.
"Boom!"
The next instant, he was the one sent flying. He spun several times midair before crashing back down, staggering backward again and again until soldiers rushed forward with shields to block and stabilize him.
"This man's power is terrifying!"
"You're the only one who can deal with him!"
"Don't let him escape!"
Ran Jingxuan shouted, "Eighth Prince! As long as we can hold them here even for a short while, the army will close in. Once surrounded, they're dead for sure! We can't let them get away—if they do…"
He glanced at the shaken faces of his men and continued grimly, "Our morale will collapse completely! It'll take at least half a month to rebuild it!"
"Leave it to me!"
Fan Shuzhen roared, spurring his horse ahead and breaking free from the formation.
"Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!"
Arrows streaked toward him like lightning, but he deflected them all with his blunt-edged greatsword.
'Hold them!'
That was all they needed to do. There were only two of them!
But even then—they couldn't catch up!
"Ahhh!"
Fan Shuzhen roared again, his muscles swelling, veins bulging like coiled serpents. His body expanded, stretching the iron armor to its limit. No one knew what cultivation art he used, but the ground cracked under his feet as he stomped down and launched himself forward like a tiger sprouting wings.
In that instant, his speed exceeded the eye's ability to follow—and within moments, he actually caught up to the two beast mounts.
"That's my Blue Mane horse!"
When he drew close, he finally recognized his steed. "Beast! You dare not stop when you see your master?!"
The Blue Mane horse hesitated for a moment, clearly recognizing its former owner.
But when Qianxun beside it glared with a flash of fierce intelligence, the Blue Mane horse tensed all over—and galloped even faster.
"Beast!"
His own warhorse had been taken—now it was helping an enemy slaughter his brothers-in-arms!
Fan Shuzhen's rage exploded.
Fortunately, that slight hesitation gave him an opening. His massive sword came down with a thunderous boom, clashing with Deng Feng's blade head-on.
The two forces collided evenly, neither gaining the upper hand.
But the burst of power Fan Shuzhen unleashed couldn't last forever. The technique pushed his body to the brink, and after only a few exchanges, his strength began to wane. His speed faltered, forcing him to halt as he watched helplessly while the two steeds—one white, one red—raced away into the distance.
"Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!"
More arrows screamed overhead, striking several cavalrymen behind him dead where they stood.
Then came the arrogant voice of the white-robed general, loud enough to shake the plains.
"Too many pigs and dogs—not enough arrows!"
"I'm tired today! I'll come back another time to continue the hunt!"
Their goal had been achieved.
Chen Sanshi gestured for Deng Feng to regroup.
Together, the two of them had slain a high-ranking general before 100,000 enemy soldiers, along with nearly 1,000 troops. It was enough to send the entire Southern Xu army reeling in confusion and hesitation—exactly as planned.
"MY HORSE!"
"MY HORSE!"
"AHHH!"
Fan Shuzhen bellowed with impotent fury, hacking wildly at the empty air.
The 100,000-strong army, after being decimated and humiliated, had no choice but to retreat back to camp—morale shattered.
"Deng Feng!"
In the central command tent, Fan Shuzhen threw down his weapon and cursed without restraint. "That Deng Feng! He fought me to a standstill! How does Hulao Pass have such a monster of a general?! Bring… bring Li Gong's son here!"
Soon, a young Qing Kingdom official was escorted into the tent, stammering explanations—that it was all a misunderstanding.
"A misunderstanding?!"
Fan Shuzhen's fury roared through the camp. "Do you even understand what this has cost us because of Li Gong's lies? A Profound Manifestation Major Achievement—and he hid it! My General Peng is dead because of it!"
He slammed his fist on the table. "Go question Li Gong right now! If he can't give me an explanation, I'm done! I'm not fighting this war anymore!"
——
Yongle Prefecture.
"What?!"
"A third Profound Manifestation?!"
"Two men… killed Southern Xu's top general Peng Yunheng in front of 100,000 soldiers, then slaughtered nearly 1,000 more before escaping unscathed?!"
"Deng Feng?! It's Deng Feng?!"
As the battle report from Hulao Pass was read, Prince Tang Li Gong's hands trembled uncontrollably. "Deng Feng didn't kill himself? He—he defected?!"
"How could that be?"
Liu Huanrong's face twisted in disbelief. "General Deng's family has been loyal for six generations! How could he betray the kingdom?"
"He's just another coward pretending to be righteous!" Li Gong slammed his hand on the table. "All that talk of loyalty and honor—it was all an act!"
Never had Li Gong been so furious.
It took him a long time to calm himself enough to speak. "Why can't they just attack the city? They know Chen Sanshi and Fang Qingyun are cunning, yet they keep giving them chances!"
"I think I understand their thinking…" Liu Huanrong sighed. "Southern Xu didn't come to die—they came to get rich. Their hesitation is natural."
"Attack the city!" Li Gong snapped. "Even if 100,000 men charge and 20,000–30,000 die, what does it matter?! I gave them my only son! Why won't they trust me? Why?!"
He gritted his teeth, eyes bloodshot. "Bring me the map! Tell them—if they truly take Hulao Pass, and if they can devour the entire eastern region of Sheng, I'll give them Qianzhou and Niaozhou! The rest can all be theirs! No more hesitation—if they hesitate again, I'll quit this war myself!"
"I'll break out of Yongle Prefecture myself! I'll abandon the three provinces too! Let them and their 100,000 troops fight the Sheng people on their own! They can't even send a Martial Saint—let them collapse and die!"
He had fought on the frontier all his life.
Never—not once—had he felt such disgust.
So many allied armies, and yet…
None of them moved!
They prided themselves on being "immovable as mountains" while their allies suffered.
Disgusting.
It was like swallowing a fly.
Just as disgusting as Meng Quji!
——
Southern Xu Military Camp.
"Bastard!"
"Li Gong dares talk tough to us?!"
Fan Shuzhen slapped the sealed letter hard on the table. "He's threatening us! Says if we keep stalling, he'll just pack up and leave—abandoning the three provinces entirely! He's the one who concealed the enemy's strength first, costing us loss after loss! Strategist, you'd better tell me—what do we do now?"
Ran Jingxuan closed his eyes, recalling the message line by line. "From the tone of it… Li Gong doesn't seem to be bluffing."
"That's right, that's right!"
Li Gong's son quickly stepped forward. "My father sent me here personally to assist in this campaign. Isn't that proof enough of his sincerity?"
"There's only one explanation then…"
Ran Jingxuan's voice dropped low and steady. "Li Gong was deceived too. He's been misled to believe that Hulao Pass only has 3,000 troops. This is Fang Qingyun's doing—a deliberate trap. Deception and manipulation are what that man excels at."
"Oh?"
You Jingzhi asked quickly, "Then, in your opinion, Strategist—how many troops are actually inside Hulao Pass?"
"Where are the scouts?"
Ran Jingxuan, known across the armies by his nickname "Ling Xuan," asked sharply, "Have you been following my orders and gathering intelligence over these days?"
"Yes, General!"
A subordinate immediately replied, "Every day, soldiers from inside Hulao Pass take their horses to graze along the Pianye River. They leave at dawn and return by dusk. The number of men herding is huge—too many to count precisely—but at least two thousand by our estimate."
"Just for herding horses, there are already two thousand?"
You Jingzhi was shocked. "Wouldn't that mean the garrison is much larger? Could this be a trick?"
The scout quickly swore that it was true.
"The Pianye River region is flat and wide. We observed from across the river—clear as daylight. Of course, my judgment is limited. The generals might wish to confirm it themselves."
"Hmm."
Ran Jingxuan nodded. He didn't hesitate.
After suffering two humiliating defeats already, none of them dared act carelessly again.
For five straight days, they observed with their own eyes.
And sure enough, the number of men herding exceeded two thousand.
"Could it be…"
Fan Shuzhen muttered, "There are really 30,000 men in there?"
"Unlikely."
Ran Jingxuan thought for a long moment. "If there were truly 30,000, Li Gong would have known. But it's certainly not 3,000 either. Based on the scale of activity, I estimate Hulao Pass holds roughly 15,000 troops—plus three Profound Manifestation generals, the Heavenly Book, and Fang Qingyun, who may possess immortal arts. That should be their actual strength."
"15,000…"
Fan Shuzhen rubbed his weapon, frowning. "Then Hulao Pass won't fall easily. If we go all out, we'll probably lose at least 40,000 men before taking it. 40,000—that's too big a loss."
"But, Fourth Lord…"
Ran Jingxuan patiently continued, "If we don't take Hulao Pass, we can't secure Lingzhou. If Li Gong truly retreats, and the Sheng army marches south through the pass, we'll have come all this way for nothing."
"So you mean… attack?"
Fan Shuzhen's eyes darkened. He wanted a domain of his own—to gain land and status, he needed victories. Lingzhou was the perfect foothold. And if he took Hulao Pass, he could seize even more afterward. But the losses would be devastating.
These 100,000 troops were his foundation. Losing nearly half in one campaign meant 5 to 10 years to recover.
Ran Jingxuan could read his thoughts. "Those who achieve greatness can't be indecisive. If you want Lingzhou—or more—you must pay the price. Hesitate, and you'll end up with nothing."
"Then we fight!"
Fan Shuzhen gritted his teeth. "But what about my Fourteenth Brother?"
The Fourteenth Prince's family was still in enemy hands. That mattered deeply.
"Eighth Lord, you're mistaken," Ran Jingxuan said solemnly. "It's our hesitation that put the Fourteenth Prince in danger. Only by bringing our full might to their gates can we force them to release him."
He paused, then added, "And I have a plan—one that could reduce our casualties."
"Strategist, speak."
"Wait a few more days."
Ran Jingxuan turned his gaze toward the Pianye River and spoke slowly. "Remember the message our spies sent before the battle began? They said Hulao Pass had limited provisions—only enough to feed two to three thousand men. Even their horses have no fodder left."
He continued, "Now that they send men daily to the Pianye River to graze, that confirms it."
"Wait another ten days to half a month."
"When their supplies are fully depleted, we attack. That might spare us some losses."
"And one more thing—the most important part."
He looked each general in the eye, his tone hard as steel. "Li Gong is right about one thing—we can't give them any more chances."
"Pass my command!"
"Advance the camp by twenty-five li!"
"In ten days, the entire army moves to surround the pass!"
"If they dare come out again with their cavalry raids, we march straight to Hulao Pass itself!"
——
Inside Hulao Pass.
"My lord."
"The grain supplies are running low."
"If we send all our horses back to Yongle Prefecture and keep only enough food for the men, we could still hold out."
"Otherwise, even with the grazing near Pianye River, it won't be enough."
"Report!"
"The Southern Xu army has advanced twenty-five li!"
"They also sent word—they say if we return the Fourteenth Prince, there's still room to negotiate. Otherwise, once they breach the walls, none will be spared!"
Bad news kept pouring in one after another.
"It seems…"
Fang Qingyun stopped playing his flute and exhaled. "This time, they're dead set on taking Hulao Pass. No more tricks will work. The real test begins now."
"These past days, we've fought fiercely," Sha Wenlong said grimly. "But in truth, we've only held for a month. We still have to last two more months. How can we possibly hold?"
The enemy army was closing in.
Their previous strategy of harassing and baiting would no longer work.
"In that case," Chen Sanshi said calmly, "we'll negotiate."
"Negotiate?"
Everyone turned to him in confusion.
One moment he talked about launching an attack, the next about peace talks—no one could tell which was real and which was a trick.
No wonder the enemy always fell for it.
Even his own men barely understood what they were doing half the time.
"So this is…"
Sha Wenlong muttered, "A delaying tactic! I get it now, General Chen—you think we can't hold out, so you're trying to buy time, right?"
"Most likely," someone said, and the others nodded in agreement.
"It seems my junior brother already has a plan," Fang Qingyun said softly. "But tell me, how are you certain they'll even agree to negotiate?"
"That's what all the earlier moves were for."
Chen Sanshi's tone was calm and deliberate. "The negotiating table is just another battlefield. And in every era, only those with strength have the right to speak there.
"Before this, Hulao Pass only had 3,000 men. With just one Sha Wenlong, we had no qualification to negotiate.
"But now—it's different!
"In the eyes of the Southern Xu, we have three Profound Manifestation generals and over 10,000 troops!
"So in their minds, attacking this fortress means paying a huge price. Yet, since they've come all this way, they can't just go home empty-handed.
"If at this moment we tell them there's another way—a way to gain great profit without paying any cost—do you think they'll still choose to fight?"
'So one Sha Wenlong wasn't even qualified to negotiate…'
Sha Wenlong's eyelids twitched violently at that line.
"Commander Chen has a point," Deng Feng admitted. "But they're still the Qing Kingdom's allies. Will they really just give up like that?"
"Allies?"
Chen Sanshi and Fang Qingyun exchanged a knowing smile. Fang Qingyun said, "Second Master Deng, not everyone is as loyal as you. Allies? They're nothing more than two dogs fighting over the same carcass. Once one's full, do you think it cares whether the other starves?"
If Southern Xu truly wanted to stand by Qing Kingdom, would they have delayed this long?
"Tell Southern Xu this," Chen Sanshi said. "As long as they agree not to attack Hulao Pass for the next two months, once the war is over, we'll trade them Lánzhou and Mòzhou.
"Those two provinces are fertile southern lands—territory Southern Xu has coveted for years. To them, they're far more tempting than a measly Lìngzhou. And best of all, they lose nothing. Oh—and the Fourteenth Prince, Fán Jiaxiao, can be returned to them as well.
"They'll take the bait."
"So all this fighting…"
Sha Wenlong scratched his head awkwardly. "All those battles just to reach peace talks? Well, makes sense, I suppose. We probably couldn't hold much longer anyway. If we can negotiate, it's not so bad—but doesn't that seem like we're giving too much away?"
"Yeah," Yan Changqing added. "General Chen, that's no small decision. It's way above our pay grade."
"You don't have to worry about that."
Chen Sanshi said plainly, "Ten days from now, General Deng and General Sha—you two will enter the Southern Xu central camp to negotiate."
"Enter their main camp?!"
Sha Wenlong almost thought he'd misheard.
That camp held 100,000 men!
If the talks failed, they'd be dead before they could even blink!
"Enough," Chen Sanshi waved his hand. "You all may go. Senior Brother Fang and Brother Wang, stay."
Soon, only the three of them remained in the room.
His trusted aide Zhao Kang stood guard outside, ensuring no one approached—not even Xia Cong was allowed near.
Xia Cong, who had volunteered to watch the door, couldn't hide his disappointment. It was clear he still wasn't counted among Chen's true inner circle.
"Heh."
Fang Qingyun chuckled. "Junior Brother, if I'm not mistaken, you're planning to have the two of us go into the enemy camp as well, aren't you?"
"Exactly."
Chen Sanshi answered frankly. "If only Sha and Deng go, I'm not fully confident. But with you two there, our odds improve greatly. However, before we proceed, I need to ask you something, Senior Brother—do you have any means of staying alive if things go wrong?"
After all, his sword-qi technique came from Fang Qingyun.
This senior brother even compiled a dictionary translating the language of the Immortal Realm.
And more importantly, he was their master's most trusted disciple—perhaps the only one truly worthy of that title.
Everything of consequence between disciples likely passed through his hands.
And with the fourth brother being crippled, there was no doubt Fang Qingyun must have some kind of life-saving trick up his sleeve.
"I do."
Fang Qingyun nodded. "But it's only that—a means of survival. You've seen it yourself, I'm a cripple now. I can't practice martial arts anymore, let alone sword-qi techniques."
"Then…"
Chen Sanshi asked seriously, "If a Profound Manifestation cultivator attacks you, how long can you last?"
"Not sure."
Fang Qingyun shook his head. "I've used it a few times—it's fragile now. But it should hold for a short while.
"Whatever you're planning, Junior Brother, do it your way. A true commander can't afford hesitation. You don't need to worry about us."
"Old Fourth is right," Wang Zhi agreed. "Hesitation brings defeat! But from the sound of it, you expect these negotiations might fail?"
Chen Sanshi didn't deny it. "Exactly. Which is why I'll be counting on you two, Senior Brothers… to walk this path with me."
From the battle of Mingzhou, Chen Sanshi had learned one thing from General Yu Song's death—the art of letting go. No hesitation, no sentimentality.
"Other than that," he said calmly, "ceding territory isn't a trivial matter. You and I can't decide this alone. We'll need Grand Commander Meng's command seal—and the cooperation of His Highness and the others. I'll trouble Senior Brother to write to them."
"No problem."
Fang Qingyun agreed without a moment's thought.
"Wait."
Wang Zhi suddenly froze. "Sanshi, I just realized something. Sha Wenlong and Deng Feng are both recognized commanders within Hulao Pass. But me—what am I supposed to do there?"
"You have a name too."
Chen Sanshi replied, "Your name is Tang Ruoshan."
"What?"
Wang Zhi blinked, clearly confused.
"Old Sixth," Fang Qingyun explained, "you're the general from the battle at Silver Pine Cliff. That's you. Junior Brother wants to give you another chance to earn merit before returning."
At the Profound Manifestation level, each slot was precious. Even secret guards and dead soldiers wouldn't appear openly on the battlefield—they'd be used for assassinations or covert missions.
But the name Tang Ruoshan… to Southern Xu, that was believable.
"Return? How am I supposed to return?"
Wang Zhi waved his hand dismissively. "If you say go, I'll go. Beyond that, who cares? I'm just at the Bone Tempering stage. Ever since I followed you guys, I've had a worse life than back in Poyang."
"Your meridian issue can probably be cured."
Chen Sanshi thought for a moment. Once they extorted the Fragrant Fire God Sect later, they might even get something capable of repairing damaged meridians.
It would just depend on whether those zealots were willing to hand it over.
"All right, it's settled then."
Chen Sanshi finalized the plan. "Two Senior Brothers, make the preparations."
——
In Yongle Prefecture.
"Ha! A bold double charge straight into the enemy camp!"
Meng Quji set his spear aside, his body still stiff with fatigue as he returned to central command. His deputy was already reading aloud the battle report from Hulao Pass.
"Unbelievable. Only 3,000 men in Hulao Pass, and they keep winning! Now they've even slain a top general! If only they had more soldiers—we wouldn't even need to worry about them holding the pass."
"True enough," Zhan Taiming agreed. "The Southern Xu army's already mobilized. They'll likely begin their full assault soon."
He skimmed the latter half of the report and frowned. "Wait—peace talks? Commander Meng, look here. What's this about?"
"Likely a delaying tactic," Meng Quji said after a moment's thought. "The best way to buy time is to keep the enemy from attacking. Stamp it."
——
In the Southern Xu military camp.
"Peace talks?"
Fan Shuzhen looked down at the letter delivered by the envoy. "Strategist, the Sheng people say they don't want both sides to suffer losses. They're offering to trade Lánzhou and Mòzhou for Lìngzhou once the war ends."
"Lánzhou and Mòzhou… just for Lìngzhou?"
You Jingzhi frowned. "If that's true, we wouldn't even need to fight—and we'd gain the richest two provinces in the south. What's the point of continuing the war then?"
"Exactly."
Fan Shuzhen's heart started to race. "Strategist, with those two provinces, I could quietly consolidate power. No need for further losses. In a few years, my army of 100,000 could become 150,000 strong!"
150,000 soldiers!
Who could rival him then?
"Wait."
Ran Jingxuan hesitated. "Wouldn't this deal be too much in Sheng's favor? They fought this entire war for the eastern three provinces, yet Lánzhou and Mòzhou are worth more than all three combined. Isn't that strange?"
"Strange? I think it's perfectly reasonable!"
Fan Shuzhen's eyes lit up. "I see it now! They're after Mount Ziwei! That's it! I understand Emperor Sheng's plan—there must be a treasure hidden there!"
"If the Eighth Prince puts it that way… it does make sense."
Ran Jingxuan nodded slowly. The Sheng army had risked everything for Lìngzhou. The true goal must be Mount Ziwei itself.
"How about we talk first?"
Fan Shuzhen suggested. "Even if nothing comes of it, we can at least use the chance to get Fourteenth Brother back."
"Eighth Prince, be careful!"
Ran Jingxuan said uneasily, "I suspect their offer isn't genuine. It's just a delaying trick to buy time."
"But what if it's real?"
Fan Shuzhen countered, "Then we'll be the ones profiting! Mount Ziwei's worth far less to us than two entire provinces. Even if it has treasures, we'll never find them. Qing Kingdom has searched for centuries!"
"They just want to stall us."
"But still…"
Ran Jingxuan thought for a while, then nodded slowly. "Fine. We'll play along. Tell them this—if they truly want peace, they must first return the Fourteenth Prince. Then, they'll have to send at least two Profound Manifestation generals, along with Fang Qingyun himself, to our 100,000-strong camp for negotiations.
"If they actually dare to do that, we'll talk. After all, their proposal already outweighs any gain we'd get from taking Hulao Pass by force.
"But if they refuse—then we'll know it's a lie."
"Brilliant!"
Fan Shuzhen's eyes gleamed. He immediately ordered a messenger to deliver the reply.
——
Days passed in silence.
Then came the rain.
It wasn't heavy, just endless—soaking the already humid southeastern lands and turning the air into mist.
For an army of 100,000, it was misery.
They had little shelter from the elements. Even their tents sat directly on wet ground. The constant damp seeped into armor and bedding alike—an unending, grinding torture that made tempers short and morale low.
Grumbling and complaints spread through the ranks of the soldiers.
"When are they going to make a move already?"
Fan Shuzhen paced back and forth, his patience wearing thin by the minute. "They agreed to negotiate, yet it's been days without a word! Li Gong keeps sending messages every single day, my head's about to explode!"
You Jingzhi frowned. "Looks like it really was just a stalling tactic after all."
"Bastards! How dare they play me!"
Fan Shuzhen roared with rage. "Strategist! Let's move!"
"Clang—"
Ran Jingxuan drew the long sword from his waist. "Pass my command!"
"Buzz—"
"Boom—"
With that single order, the entire Southern Xu army moved.
100,000 soldiers formed up, the massive army stretching across 20 li, creating a formation so vast and thunderous it made the heavens tremble.
They marched on Hulao Pass with unstoppable force.
On the city walls, even the battle-hardened Xuan Armor troops, who had fought through countless victories, couldn't help but feel a chill creep up their spines.
That was a real 100,000-strong army before them. And they all knew—they only had 3,000 men.
Just as the pressure reached its peak, a messenger galloped into the Southern Xu camp.
"They agreed?"
Fan Shuzhen snatched the letter and read the words, his mood instantly lifting. "Strategist! Look—this is from Hulao Pass! They've accepted your conditions!"
"Oh?"
Ran Jingxuan raised an eyebrow in surprise. "They're willing to send two Profound Manifestation generals to our camp for talks?"
"No," Fan Shuzhen corrected him, excitement flashing in his eyes. "Four in total—Sha Wenlong, Deng Feng, that unnamed fierce general, and Fang Qingyun himself! Seems Mount Ziwei really matters to them. They must be coming sincerely."
"All of them?"
You Jingzhi blinked in disbelief. "That's almost the entire command of Hulao Pass walking right into our camp! Their sincerity's overflowing! Strategist, I think we can safely negotiate."
"If that's true…"
Ran Jingxuan frowned. "We can talk, but something feels off."
"Strategist, you're overthinking it this time," You Jingzhi argued. "Three Profound Manifestation generals and Fang Qingyun, all coming into our camp—it's like lambs walking into the butcher's pen. You think they'd all just throw their lives away?
"Besides, with those four gone, who's left back there? Even if that Chen Sanshi fellow's cunning, without any Profound Manifestation generals, what can he possibly do?"
Without those higher-realm commanders, Chen Sanshi was nothing more than a Meridian-Connecting cultivator.
Even the Heavenly Book Formation at Silver Pine Cliff required that bare-handed powerhouse to function. And the double cavalry assault afterward had relied entirely on Deng Feng's strength to counter equal-level opponents.
Without them, what was Chen Sanshi going to rely on?
"That's true," Ran Jingxuan admitted, still uncertain. "But even so—"
"Strategist, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!"
Fan Shuzhen cut him off. "Remember, Emperor Longqing of the Sheng Empire is weak and corrupt. Do you remember the Ten Days of Yunzhou? Nine times out of ten, it was his doing! If Mount Ziwei really hides some treasure, trading away two provinces is nothing for him."
Ran Jingxuan thought about it, and it did make sense.
Besides, it was the enemy coming to them—a sheep walking into a tiger's den.
And after all, this was just a negotiation, not a decisive battle. If talks failed, they could simply fight afterward.
"Strategist," Fan Shuzhen added, pressing the point, "don't forget, Fourteenth Brother's still in their hands. Even if negotiations collapse, at least we'll get him back first!"
"…Fine."
Ran Jingxuan finally relented. "All right. Let them come. But if things don't go our way…"
His eyes darkened to steel. "Then they don't leave alive.
"Pass my order—around the central command tent, secretly set up a formation to trap generals. When I throw my cup, that's the signal.
"And then…"
"Welcome our guests."
"Rumble—"
The gates of Hulao Pass creaked open.
Fang, Deng, Sha, and Wang walked out together—four men, no attendants, no guards.
They crossed the plains straight into the mass of 100,000 troops. Armor gleamed like black waves as soldiers parted, forming a long corridor through which the four disappeared—swallowed by the army itself.
"My lord…"
"Isn't this far too risky?"
Even Zhao Kang and the others watching from the walls felt their hearts pound.
"Yeah," someone whispered. "All the top generals are gone. That's 100,000 troops down there! If something goes wrong—"
None of them would come back alive.
After all, the enemy still had three Profound Manifestation generals, and Fan Shuzhen was no weaker than Deng Feng.
That left only Sha Wenlong as a defender. If anything happened, Hulao Pass would be finished.
Chen Sanshi stood atop the fortress, overlooking the desolate plains in silence.
His eyes burned—not with fear, but unshakable resolve.
"Xia Cong! Hear my order!"
"The entire army will prepare for battle!"
"At dawn tomorrow, we march out and fight to the end!"
"Fight to the end?!"
Xia Cong almost thought he misheard. "My lord, aren't we negotiating? Why fight all of a sudden? General Fang and the others are still in their camp!"
Chen Sanshi said nothing. His silence was the only answer.
Xia Cong understood immediately and didn't dare protest further. He bowed and hurried off to relay the command.
This plan—
Was both negotiation and final battle.
This was the fourth move, and the last step of the entire Hulao Pass campaign.
Three thousand—breaking one hundred thousand!