Breaking the Appointment

Before the words even fell, dozens of hidden arrows flew from the dense forest, all aimed directly at Qin Sang.

Qin Sang gripped his horse with one hand, while the other flashed out like lightning to swat at the arrows. He easily knocked down most of them, catching a few in his hand. The missed arrows struck Qin Sang but then fell to the ground, which was quite strange.

Then, he suddenly flung his hand back. A few muffled thuds sounded from the forest, followed by a burst of shouts.

"Kill!"

Qin Sang let out a soft shout, and his figure vanished from the horse. Water Monkey and the others also dismounted and charged into the dense forest together. Wu Chuanzong and a few others, with slightly weaker martial arts, surrounded their horses, forming a defensive battle formation and retaliating with crossbows.

In the darkness, Qin Sang summoned his Ice Crystal Armor. His figure was like lightning, his momentum like a fierce tiger. Yanwang had already been summoned by him.

Mere hidden arrows could not pose the slightest threat to him.

In an instant, over a dozen assassins met their end at Qin Sang's hands. All the assassins were terrified and fled deeper into the forest. Qin Sang's ears, of course, did not miss their movements. Just as he was about to pursue them, his heart suddenly stirred, and he looked up at the mountaintop.

The moonlight was dim late at night, and a thin layer of mist shrouded the mountaintop. Just now, a figure had flashed through the mist. If his eyesight weren't so good, he would have thought he had misread it.

The person spying from the mountaintop saw that the situation was unfavorable and tried to escape. Qin Sang sneered, ordered Yanwang to pursue the enemy, and then used his movement technique, gliding towards the mountaintop.

As soon as he reached the mountaintop, he saw the corpse of a man dressed in white lying on a rock. Qin Sang squatted down and flipped over the man's waist token. It turned out to be an acquaintance: the White-Clad Scholar, one of the Four Protectors of the Blood-Clad Tower!

This person's martial arts were no weaker than Bai Jianglan's, yet he had died here silently.

Qin Sang mused to himself. The White-Clad Scholar ambushing him might not have been instigated by King Dongyang. It was more likely the Heir Apparent, who was greedy for treasure. However, since they dared to extend their claws, they had to endure the pain of being chopped off.

Water Monkey silently glided to the mountaintop. "General Qin, only one brother sustained minor injuries. There are two survivors from the other side, and they've been apprehended."

"Send the signal. No need for survivors, kill them all!"

Qin Sang carried the White-Clad Scholar's corpse and glided down the mountain. He threw it to Water Monkey. "You and Wen Kui take half the men and return to Mingcheng quickly. Quietly hand this corpse over to the County Princess. Say nothing else."

It was the sixth winter since arriving in this world. Qin Sang, as the Left Governor of the Xiaoyong Camp, entered the Imperial Capital of Great Sui for the first time.

The three prefectures of the Imperial Capital had fallen one after another, and the defending generals behind them surrendered at the mere sight of the enemy. King Dongyang, with the momentum of the entire realm, besieged the Imperial Capital with his army. The Imperial Capital held out for three months, but was out of supplies and ammunition. The False Emperor, unwilling to flee north, hanged himself in the palace. The defending generals surrendered.

King Dongyang did not enter the palace. Instead, he first went to Pilgrimage Mountain to pay respects to the late emperor. The enthronement ceremony was set for the first day of the New Year, with less than two months remaining. The generals and ministers were busy preparing for the Fengchan ceremony on Pilgrimage Mountain. As for quelling the rebel troops in the northern regions, no one was in a hurry.

Qin Sang occupied the mansion of a minister from the False Emperor's court, leaving only a squadron of personal guards to watch the door. Apart from Wu Chuanzong and others, he refused to see anyone who came to visit.

Among the various generals, below the two Governors-General, there were only a handful of Left Governors-General that could be counted on one hand. The Xiaoyong Camp commanded by Qin Sang, in coordination with the Victorious Camp in Guize Prefecture, had achieved brilliant military exploits. Although their performance in the final attack on the Imperial Capital was somewhat mediocre, it did not affect Qin Sang's status. Even if he wasn't enfeoffed as a Prince, a Marquisate was surely within reach.

However, this highly sought-after general had such a peculiar temper, leaving people utterly bewildered.

Little did they know that after the Battle of Duyakou, Qin Sang rarely focused his energy on military affairs, dedicating himself entirely to cultivation. Sometimes he would cultivate for an entire day.

Later, the Left Governor of the Xiaoyong Camp made a grave mistake, and the County Princess personally came to the camp to see Qin Sang, forcing the position of Left Governor upon him.

This was also why the Xiaoyong Camp did not shine brightly in the subsequent battle for the Imperial Capital. However, because Qin Sang delegated authority, Wu Chuanzong, Water Monkey, and others received ample training and were capable of handling matters independently.

Qin Sang also reaped considerable rewards. Not long ago, he successfully broke through to the fifth level of the Netherworld Scripture.

The Fengchan ceremony on Pilgrimage Mountain, which he had longed for for many years, was fast approaching, and Qin Sang was becoming increasingly eager. He wondered what kind of surprise the young man surnamed Han would bring him in the end.

Before the New Year arrived, heavy snow fell for three days.

But this New Year was the most reassuring one for the people of Great Sui in recent years. What would have been considered a snow disaster in the past was praised as auspicious snow, a harbinger of a bountiful harvest and good fortune.

The clouds dispersed, and the snow cleared. The sky turned clear after the snow.

The sky was still dim. The snow on the mountain road of Pilgrimage Mountain had been cleared overnight and covered with straw and ash. Qin Sang, Governor Feng, and Governor Mu chatted as they climbed the mountain step by step. Behind them were generals and meritorious officials.

The Imperial Guards led the way at the very front, followed by King Dongyang, then the Heir Apparent, the County Princess, and several princes.

Finally, there were the officials, guards, and the jade and silk offerings, sacrificial animals, grains, and other provisions for the ceremony.

Everyone walked, leaving their carriages at the foot of the mountain to show respect.

It took an hour and a half to climb to the summit and see the Pilgrimage Palace. The generals were strong and healthy, while the weaker officials nearly fainted from exhaustion. The Heir Apparent was covered in sweat and panting, performing worse than King Dongyang. The County Princess remained as composed as ever.

Officials from the Imperial Sacrificial Bureau stood before the gate of the Pilgrimage Palace. Upon seeing King Dongyang, they knelt and paid their respects. After a series of rituals, the Palace Master of the Pilgrimage Palace brought out a brand-new dragon robe. King Dongyang entered to change, and the people below began to bustle about.

Countless tribute items were sent into the Pilgrimage Palace like a flowing stream. Monks and Taoist priests chanted scriptures. Qin Sang watched with amusement, his anxiety diminishing somewhat.

At noon, someone from the Imperial Sacrificial Bureau held a silk scroll and read out names. Those whose names were called could not hide their excitement, yet they feigned composure, stepping into the Pilgrimage Palace under countless envious and awestruck gazes.

Qin Sang heard his name and walked in as if nothing had happened.

Inside the Pilgrimage Palace, huge incense burners were lit, and there were countless tribute items. In the center were placed jade tablets and scrolls. King Dongyang stood quietly, his tightly clenched fists revealing his evident unease.

In the end, only thirty-one people were qualified to enter the Pilgrimage Palace!

"The auspicious time has arrived, the Holy Emperor shall be enfeoffed!"

The Palace Master of the Pilgrimage Palace shouted loudly, raising his arm high and striking the ancient bell. The bell's chime was melodious and spread throughout the four directions.

King Dongyang personally recited the sacrificial text.

The bell chimed eighty-one times. Qin Sang grew impatient, thinking to himself how much these immortal masters loved to put on a show.

As the last chime faded away.

'Caw!'

A clear crane cry echoed through the vast sky. Everyone looked up in shock.

In the clear sky, which had been cloudless moments before, layers of auspicious mist had somehow risen, surging with radiance, instantly filling the sky. In the depths of the mist, there seemed to be a heavenly gate, extraordinarily mysterious.

'Whoosh!'

A giant immortal crane broke through the misty clouds, soaring through the air. In an instant, it arrived above the Palace of Pilgrimage. Opening its beak, a jade seal, trailing streams of light, fell into King Dongyang's hand.

The immortal crane's form gradually faded.

"Please come in and rest, honored immortal," King Dongyang said after the crane disappeared. Princess Dongyang bowed towards the offering table. Just as everyone was confused, a figure solidified from nothingness, and a stout young man appeared out of thin air.

Qin Sang's heart sank. It wasn't the young man surnamed Han!