A Vow Written in Blood

"The rebels claimed an army of fifty thousand; how many died?"

"I'm not entirely sure. The reports say three thousand heads were taken, but the actual number is anyone's guess." Thousand-Household Commander Su had only received a vague briefing; there were no precise figures to be had.

"Where did the decisive battle take place?"

"Tianzhong Province," Thousand-Household Commander Su replied.

"How far is that from here? I'd like to go and see."

Thousand-Household Commander Su's tone suddenly turned stern. "What are you going there for? The area is under lockdown. Population movement is strictly restricted now; without military orders or official government documents, you won't be getting in."

"Why the lockdown?" Lin Xuan asked, puzzled.

Thousand-Household Commander Su explained, "The imperial court is conducting a purge to root out the power base the rebels established there. Naturally, they must seal it off—to prevent the rebels from slipping out, and to stop anyone from the outside from sneaking in to pass messages."

Lin Xuan couldn't help but feel a sense of regret. A battlefield like that would surely be filled with the dead, and there were so many talents he could plunder, yet he had no way to reach it...

It was like watching a piece of fresh meat slowly rot away while he stood by, utterly powerless.

If he could go there, the gains would undoubtedly be the greatest he had reaped since obtaining the Book of Fate. Why bother going to Wuqu Province at all?

For now, he had no choice but to head to Wuqu Province first, then see if the lockdown had been lifted upon his return.

Lin Xuan: "This subordinate will take his leave."

"Go, go. Don't let it hinder your cultivation." Thousand-Household Commander Su waved his hand, stroking his beard with a meaningful smile. "It's normal for a young hero to have romantic attachments. Looking at you, you don't seem like the type to squander your martial path for the sake of love, so I won't nag you. Get your skills in order and settle down soon."

Lin Xuan bowed to Thousand-Household Commander Su and prepared to leave.

Thousand-Household Commander Su called out to him again: "I'll have my men escort you. Wuqu Province is a full one hundred and forty miles from Liang City."

"Very well."

When Lin Xuan returned home, he found Qin Ying instructing Lin An in martial arts.

Hearing Lin Xuan's footsteps, the two of them ceased their movements.

Lin Xuan bowed to Qin Ying: "Thank you for your trouble, Miss Qin. It is a great fortune that you are willing to guide my wife."

Qin Ying waved her hand, her nature straightforward: "It's no trouble at all. Lin An has a good grasp of things. Her foundation is shallow and she lacks resources, but with some time spent honing her skills, reaching the Breath-Connecting Realm will be no problem. You, on the other hand—reaching the Breath-Connecting Realm in three months? Only Commander-in-Chief Li in his prime could have outdone you."

"You flatter me. My breakthrough to the Breath-Connecting Realm was merely a stroke of luck; there must be many such young heroes in this world."

"Flattery? Not in the least." Qin Ying's eyes were filled with envy—envy for Lin Xuan's talent, and envy for Lin An's luck in encountering such a martial genius.

"At my current pace, it will take at least three or four years, won't it?" Lin An sighed.

"Three or four years is already very fast. You cannot compare yourself to Lin Xuan; the vast majority of your peers are eclipsed in his presence."

Lin Xuan reached out and gently patted Lin An's shoulder, whispering: "Don't worry. I already have a way to help you advance quickly. It won't be long before you can step into the middle stage of the Bone Binding realm."

Qin Ying asked curiously: "What method? Her talent isn't bad, but you mustn't lead her astray. If you happen to walk down those crooked, evil paths, her future will be ruined."

Lin Xuan replied: "Dual cultivation. I don't know if that counts as a righteous path."

"Dual... dual cultivation?" Qin Ying's pretty face flushed red instantly, as she recalled the folk novels she had read, which contained scenes of dual cultivation.

Lin An seemed to understand the implication of dual cultivation. The corners of her mouth curled up in a way no one else could perceive, and she took the opportunity to tease Qin Ying: "What's wrong, Sister Qin Ying? What does dual cultivation mean? Why are you blushing?"

"N-nothing! I won't disturb you two any longer. I'm leaving!" Qin Ying said, her words flustered.

Watching her hurried retreat, Lin An couldn't help but burst into a giggle, her shoulders trembling slightly: "Sister Qin Ying is usually so bold and heroic, yet she panics the moment dual cultivation is mentioned... It seems this method of dual cultivation isn't exactly something 'proper,' is it?"

"Dual cultivation is very proper. She must have misunderstood it, misled by those novels."

He didn't mention the heaven-defying method of temporarily bestowing the Martial Dao Holy Fetus and then reclaiming it, only thinking to himself: "Once I return from Wuqu Province and obtain the dual cultivation technique, I will let you see for yourself—what it means to advance a thousand miles in a single day."

From outside the courtyard gate came the report of a garrison soldier: "Flag Commander Lin, the carriage is ready. We can depart for Wuqu Province at any time."

Lin Xuan instructed Lin An: "Don't neglect your training while I'm gone. Remember to use the medicinal herbs on time, just as I did."

Lin An: "I've noted it. Go with peace of mind."

Amidst the towering mountains and dense, lush forests, Zhao Chengde held his breath in the dark, thicket, not daring to move. Even the moonlight could not pierce the canopy above him.

Despite being a half-step Martial Saint, he was being hunted like a stray dog. There was no helping it; his pursuers were the elite of the imperial court.

Not far away, an old man with white hair stood with his sword in hand, his internal energy condensed into a tangible force. His cold, sharp voice pierced through the layers of leaves:

"Zhao Chengde, you cannot escape! The imperial court's hunt never fails! You, a mere bandit, surviving by the skin of your teeth through arson and plunder, having luckily touched the threshold of the Mountain-Suppressing Realm—do you truly think you can contend with the thousand-year-old Great Jin?"

"Surrender obediently, and I might still leave your corpse intact!"

Sensing the silence in the woods, the white-haired elder ordered his subordinates: "Keep searching! Even if you have to turn Phoenix-Perch Ridge upside down, you must find him!"

Zhao Chengde felt a surge of grief and indignation: I've been hunted for three days and three nights. Even after I ambushed and killed quite a few Blade-Condensing Realm martial artists, they still won't stop.

It seems the imperial court has placed a hefty price on my head!

He had exhausted all the luck and resources available to the common folk to reach the half-step Martial Saint realm, but against the imperial court's endless stream of soldiers, experts, and protectors, he was ultimately a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

He had known the ending since the day he joined the Righteous Army, yet he had rebelled regardless.

Because the world was plagued by famine and harsh governance was as fierce as a tiger; the common people couldn't even afford a mouthful of coarse grain, military households were enslaved for generations, and the path forward for martial artists was locked shut by the court. This Great Jin had long since rotted to its core.

Barking echoed through the forest. The court's men recognized it instantly; it was the cry of a Wind-Summoning Spirit Hound locating its prey. This breed of spirit hound possessed a sense of smell many times sharper than an ordinary hunting dog.

Yet, Zhao Chengde had already slaughtered several of these precious Wind-Summoning Spirit Hounds.

The white-haired elder rejoiced and pointed toward the source of the barking: "There!"

Damn it, there's no escaping this time.

Dozens of true energy auras erupted simultaneously. The flash of blades and shadows of swords shattered the gloom of the dense forest; wood chips flew, and century-old trees within dozens of zhang were snapped in half instantly.

Zhao Chengde slowly straightened his body. His tattered cloth robes were soaked in blood, and the moonlight illuminated his refined face.

King Cui Zhao Chengde—known to the imperial soldiers as Yama Zhao and Head-Shaving Zhao—finally unleashed his half-step Martial Saint aura without reservation, causing the surrounding ancient trees to explode.

"A king has a king's way to die."

"The Great Jin is tyrannical and lawless, oppressing the masses. Today, I, Zhao Chengde, shall use my blood to declare my resolve."

"Even if I am torn to pieces, I will drag you lackeys down to the grave with me!"

His roar shook the mountains and forests, mingling with the clash of blades, before gradually fading into the depths of the dense woods.