"Hyah!"
Chen Sanshi rode Qianxun straight ahead.
When he reached the middle of the civilians' procession, he noticed something amiss ahead.
The civilians seemed to have encountered Flood Beasts. Their previously orderly ranks scattered in a mad rush, nearly spiraling beyond control.
"What's going on? The barbarians couldn't possibly have circled around this quickly!"
Chen Sanshi sped up. He clearly saw several raised banners, all bearing the Great Sheng Dynasty's colors. The command banner even plainly bore the name of Youzhou's commander-in-chief, Jing Fuhu.
"Where did this deserter come from?!"
The young general who had earlier whipped several civilians to death approached head-on. "I see you're wearing an officer's armor! Yunzhou is in urgent danger—how dare you become a deserter?!"
Chen Sanshi did not even have time to speak.
"If I do not kill deserters like you, how can the Great Sheng army establish its might?!"
As the young general spoke, he raised his spear and was about to strike when someone stopped him.
"Stop!"
Another general slowly approached on a black horse. He carried an Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, with many fully armored generals flanking him. Every one of them was young, no older than twenty-five or twenty-six.
"Heir Apparent!"
Yin Hanwen treated the newcomer with immense respect. "This man is a deserter. Should he not be executed?"
"First ask about Yunzhou's situation."
Cao Fan narrowed his eyes and asked, "Where are you from?"
"Anding Prefecture Border Garrison Vanguard, Poyang Thousand Households Command. Chengxin Colonel Chen Sanshi."
Chen Sanshi stated his name.
"You are Chen Sanshi?"
Cao Fan was slightly surprised.
The people behind him exchanged glances. Clearly, they had all heard the name before.
"So you're the one who captured that useless fool from the Yuwen family alive?"
Yin Hanwen said with considerable interest, "The battle report said