"Wei attacked Zhao?"
Verdant Green Maiden blinked, sharply catching the key point in Su Qin's words. She pressed him further: "Who's leading the troops?"
Su Qin pondered for a moment before replying, "Wei State's Grand General, Pang Juan!"
Once he spoke the name, Verdant Green Maiden understood. She waved him off. "Go. Don't disgrace your identity as a Guigu Disciple. Leave a bold, brilliant stroke in this Great Contention Era!"
"This disciple will not let you down, Master!"
Su Qin bade farewell to Verdant Green Maiden.
After he left, Verdant Green Maiden also packed her belongings, preparing to leave.
"We're moving again?"
Hong Luan tilted her head, watching Verdant Green Maiden in confusion. "Didn't we used to stay in one place for thirty or fifty years? What's gotten into you lately?"
"It's not like I'm moving house. I'm going to collect someone's body."
Verdant Green Maiden replied. After shouldering her pack, she headed out of the valley.
Hong Luan perched on her shoulder and asked, "Whose? Pang Juan's?"
"Oh my, what a clever bird you are after following me for centuries. At last, you've learned a little of my brilliance!"
Verdant Green Maiden clicked her tongue and shook her head.
Hong Luan realized she was calling her an idiot and immediately hopped about in outrage. "You're the idiot! You're a stupid snake! Stupid snake!"
"All right, all right, I'm a stupid snake." Verdant Green Maiden nodded.
Zhao Land, Handan.
The Wei Army had besieged Handan for many days. Zhao had sent envoys in every direction, but so far, not a single person had come to its rescue!
In the military camp, Pang Juan looked arrogant as he declared, "This time, Handan is sure to fall!"
Yet it seemed Heaven was always playing tricks on people. No sooner had Pang Juan spoken than a messenger from Da Liang came stumbling in, bearing King of Wei's command: the Qi Army had besieged Da Liang, and King of Wei wanted Pang Juan to return at once with reinforcements!
"The Qi Army!"
"It's actually the Qi Army!"
The strategists and deputy generals in the tent were astonished.
Pang Juan's expression turned icy. He thought of Sun Boling, whom Verdant Green Maiden had rescued all those years ago! After they left, Pang Juan had sent people to make inquiries and learned that Chunyu Kun had taken Sun Boling back to Qi.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered killing Sun Boling, but Qi had protected him well!
The Qi Army that had suddenly besieged Da Liang must be under his command!
"Who's leading the Qi Army?"
Pang Juan hurriedly asked.
The messenger replied, "Tian Ji!"
"What about Sun Bin?" Pang Juan pressed.
The messenger looked bewildered and shook his head. "I've never heard of anyone named Sun Bin. Grand General, King's Command is for you to return and reinforce the capital at once!"
"But Handan is about to fall!"
Pang Juan roared. The deputy generals exchanged glances, all urging him, "Grand General, King's Command cannot be disobeyed! And if Da Liang falls, King of Wei will be in danger! What good will it do us to take Handan then? We'll all be guilty of failing to protect our state, and that means death!"
"Indeed, Grand General, think carefully!"
"Grand General!"
As the deputy generals pleaded with him not to act recklessly and to return to Da Liang, Pang Juan suddenly felt all his strength drain away.
He staggered a few steps and sank into a chair behind him.
Seeing him like this, everyone panicked and hurried forward. "Grand General..."
Pang Juan raised a hand to stop them all. Only after a long, deathly silence did he issue his orders: "Pass the command to the whole army. Set up the cooking pots and prepare food. We withdraw after daybreak. The Zhao Army must not detect our movements. Leave a detachment behind to guard against pursuit."
"Yes, sir!"
Seeing Pang Juan relent, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Pang Juan might have been a poor man, but he knew how to command an army. As the Wei Wuzu withdrew, their ranks remained in perfect order.
Months later, the army returned to reinforce Wei Du. The Qi Army besieging Da Liang withdrew as soon as it heard the news. Pang Juan didn't dare delay and hurried into the palace to meet King of Wei.
King of Wei was furious. He ordered Pang Juan to lead the troops in pursuit of the Qi Army, vowing to take revenge!
Pang Juan tried repeatedly to dissuade him, but King of Wei wouldn't listen.
With no other choice, he had to marshal the troops and lead the army in pursuit of the Qi Army! Yet even as he saw the Qi Army in apparent retreat, he remained cautious and dared not press too hard. After pursuing them for several days, he noticed that the Qi Army was lighting fewer and fewer cooking fires.
"Have the Qi men deserted?"
Pang Juan furrowed his brow, uncertain. "Could it be that this Qi Army isn't led by Sun Bin after all?"
He grabbed someone nearby and asked, "Tell me, who exactly is commanding the Qi Army?"
"It's... Tian Ji! There's no mistake!"
The man answered in a panic.
"Tian Ji! Well, well, Tian Ji!" Pang Juan laughed. He immediately ordered, "Pass the command to the whole army. Pursue them! Wipe out this Qi force for me and bring glory to Wei!"
The generals nodded. "Yes, sir!"
The army pursued them to Ma Ling, where the road ahead was treacherous and too narrow for the army to march across in formation!
Pang Juan carefully studied the terrain, divided the army into a vanguard, central force, and rear guard, then took command of the central force himself and hurried them through the pass!
On the sheer cliff, Verdant Green Maiden ate meat as she chatted with Sun Boling. "Are you going to kill him here?"
"Yes."
Sun Boling nodded. He looked at Verdant Green Maiden, his hands on his legs slowly clenching into fists. "Master, do you not want me to kill him?"
Verdant Green Maiden shook her head. "Your grudge has nothing to do with me!"
Seeing her shake her head, Sun Boling breathed a sigh of relief. He understood why she had come and asked, "If this disciple dies, will you come to see me, Master?"
The question was a strange one. Verdant Green Maiden glanced at him and muttered, "What's gotten into you? Don't worry. You're an old acquaintance of mine, and I've always had the good habit of visiting old acquaintances' graves! Remember to bury some precious treasures in your tomb."
At her words, Sun Boling gave a rare smile.
Below, once the Wei Army's vanguard had passed, the Qi Army suddenly sprang into action and cut the three forces apart!
Using the terrain to their advantage, the Qi Army surrounded Pang Juan's central force!
The Qi Army tossed down an old tree.
It was carved with the words: Pang Juan dies beneath this tree!
When Pang Juan saw the inscription, he understood everything! He charged to the front of the ranks, almost crazed, and glared up at the Qi Army watching them from above. He roared, "Where's Sun Bin? Bring him out to face me!"
"I am Tian Ji, general of Qi!" Tian Ji stood beside Sun Boling, one hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
At his words, Pang Juan knitted his brows and shouted, "I want to see Sun Bin!"
Tian Ji turned to Sun Boling beside him, looking helpless. "Mr. Sun, what do you think...?"
Sun Boling took a deep breath and signaled for someone to push him forward. He called down to Pang Juan, "Senior Brother, you wanted to see me. Here I am!"
Seeing Sun Boling surrounded by the Qi Army, Pang Juan froze for a moment, then burst into wild laughter. He pointed his sword at Sun Boling and raged, "Sun Bin! I should have killed you back in Da Liang! I showed mercy for one moment, and now I'm trapped in this predicament. I regret it with all my heart!"
Hearing this, Sun Boling's gaze flickered. He only said to Pang Juan in a measured voice, "There's no point saying more, Senior Brother!"
"You deserve to die!"
Before you continue