Wei Yuan's past
Without needing anyone else to answer, Nurhega knew who the young man who controlled the "flying sword" to destroy the siege engine was.
The soldiers cheering from the city walls had already told him the answer.
Xu Yinluo!
Xu Qi'an!
A rising star in the year of Capital Evaluation, the most dazzling new talent in Great Feng, no, calling him a new talent is not appropriate.
His achievements and influence make him a truly remarkable figure.
Nurhega chuckled and said, "It is said that Xu Qi'an is Wei Yuan's most trusted confidant. He owes his current achievements entirely to Wei Yuan's promotion. Unfortunately, he was stripped of his official position during the massacre of Chuzhou."
"I never expected that he would come to Yuyang Pass in person after Wei Yuan's death. Tsk tsk tsk, he truly shared a deep and profound bond with Wei Yuan."
Sugudu Red Bear squinted, scrutinizing the young man on the city wall. "This lad's cultivation is not bad; it is said that his Vajra Divine Skill is beyond the reach of even a fourth-rank martial artist."
During their conversation, both men clearly sensed the high morale and fighting spirit of the Da Great Feng garrison.
This young man has such a reputation? Nurhega frowned, raised his sword high, and shouted, "Attack the city!"
The third wave of ten thousand infantrymen charged towards Yuyang Pass like a swarm of ants.
"Red Bear, come with me to the city wall and meet this Xu Yinluo of the Great Feng," Nurhega said loudly.
Sugudu Red Bear knew that he was trying to kill the Great Feng Silver Gong and dampen the morale and fighting spirit of the Great Feng soldiers.
That's exactly what I was thinking!
The one-eyed red bear laughed loudly.
The two riders charged out of the formation and disappeared into the distance.
Behind the two leaders followed more than thirty martial artists, whose cultivation levels varied, but the lowest among them was a sixth-grade expert with copper skin and iron bones, a strong person who could roll around in the midst of a large army with his physical body.
Those who haven't reached the Bronze Skin and Iron Bones Realm are not qualified to charge into battle.
On the city walls, the defending generals felt a chill. Attacks by ordinary soldiers were manageable, but attacks by high-ranking warriors were the real headache, especially when there was a significant disparity in the number of high-ranking warriors.
High-level martial artists charged up the city wall and wreaked havoc. Even with the resistance of their own side's experts, the surrounding guards suffered heavy casualties in the ensuing battle.
A general shouted, "Prepare the crossbows!"
The well-prepared soldiers rolled out rows of strangely shaped ballistae. Unlike ordinary ballistae, these ballistae had enormous, exaggerated firing barrels with rows of firing holes on their surface.
This is specifically designed for high-level martial artists. Its attack power is no less than that of a ballista, and its coverage area is unmatched by a ballista.
The comprehensive strike targets high-level martial artists' early warnings of danger.
The cost of this divine crossbow was ten times that of a ballista and a cannon.
"Emission!"
In an instant, not only the crossbows, but also cannons and ballistae opened fire, targeting the rapidly approaching enemy experts led by Nurhega.
Nurhega leaped from his horse, unleashing a barrage of punches that scattered the crossbow bolts raining down upon him.
His skilled men, now free from worries, charged forward with unwavering courage.
A dark shadow descended from the sky, grabbing Nurhega's shoulders; it was a blurry, giant bird with outstretched wings.
Nurhega dispersed the first wave of artillery and crossbow bolts, looked at the city walls, and sneered, "Is this all the firepower the Great Feng? Why don't you bring on a fiercer attack?"
The morale of the Yan soldiers soared, their battle cries suddenly intensified, and they launched a desperate attack on the city.
The generals defending the city frowned, noticing the fear in the faces of their soldiers.
At that moment, a loud "boom" resounded from the city wall, and a golden light crashed down on Nurhega, causing him to tumble and roll in the air before finally regaining his footing some distance away.
Li Miaozhen summoned a flying sword, which floated beneath Xu Qi'an's feet, dragging him into the air.
Xu Qi'an, wielding the Taiping Blade, retorted loudly, "The number one expert in Yan Kingdom? Is this all the strength you've got?"
This time, the soldiers of Great Feng erupted in cheers, shouting "Xu Yinluo!"
The generals breathed a sigh of relief; as long as Xu Yinluo was still around, the soldiers of Great Feng would never lack morale.
Nurhega patted his chest and said, "Fifth rank."
The giant bird phantom flapped its wings and carried him down from the sky, swooping towards Xu Qi'an.
"Miaozhen!"
Unable to take to the air, Xu Qi'an, knowing he would surely lose if he fought in the air, roared.
Li Miaozhen understood perfectly and used her flying sword to send him back to the city wall.
On the other side, Sugudu Red Bear soared into the air and climbed the city wall in one go, while the other experts climbed the city wall by hand, which was a blind spot for the cannons and ballistae.
Li Miaozhen's pupils lost their color, turning into a glassy hue. She raised her hand, her palm pointing at the red bear of Sugudu.
The next moment, Sugudu Red Bear's sword betrayed him, pointing its blade at its master's throat.
His armor rebelled, making a clanging sound, as if it wanted to strangle the red bear Sugudu.
With a sudden burst of energy, Sugudu Red Bear shattered the armor into fragments, hissing as the metal shards embedded themselves in the city wall and into the bodies of the surrounding guards.
He charged wildly toward the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect, knocking away all the soldiers in his path.
Li Miaozhen leaped gracefully into the air, stepping on a flying sword that whistled like the wind.
She raised her sword finger and used the power of her Primordial Spirit to control the magical Law Artifact, summoning two massive torrents of steel.
Sugudu Red Bear chuckled, his knees sinking as he leaped forward. His fourth-rank martial artist physique withstood the two converging torrents of steel, and amidst the flying sparks, he resolutely lunged at Li Miaozhen.
A dark shadow rushed up from the side and crashed diagonally into the red bear of Sugudu.
That's Zhang Kaitai.
The two flew out in a tangle, crashing through the city walls and creating one crater after another.
Sugudu Red Bear grabbed Zhang Kaitai by the neck, his right fist condensing fourth-grade fist intent, and slammed into his face.
When!
Zhang Kaitai bled from all seven orifices.
"You son of a bitch, you barbarian!"
Zhang Kaitai's usually stern face suddenly contorted into a ferocious expression as he pointed his sword at Su Gudu's red bear's chest, unleashing a powerful sword intent.
Sugudu Red Bear was knocked off the city wall by this unparalleled sword intent, crushing a circle of his own infantrymen to death. His chest was a bloody mess, and his face was contorted in pain.
With a sudden leap, he charged forward again.
"Bite!"
Xu Qi'an drew his Taiping sword and severed Nurhega's sword. At the same time, he raised his foot and kicked Nurhega hard in the abdomen.
Yan Jun was forced to retreat. He grabbed Xu Qi'an's ankle with his left hand and aimed his right elbow at his knee, striking down hard.
When!
A resounding bell echoed between heaven and earth.
The brilliant golden light remained unmoved. Xu Qi'an followed up with a high kick, causing his opponent to stagger backward. He grinned and said, "Not quite there yet."
"Yeah!"
Nurhega was surrounded by blood-red light, and his aura was even stronger than that of a peak fourth-rank expert.
The next moment, Xu Qi'an flew out like a cannonball, smashing through many of the city's guards along the way.
His feet slid more than ten meters across the ground before he managed to regain his balance.
Nurhega let out a soft whistle, and the surrounding corpses seemed to be summoned, rising up and attacking the defending soldiers in a frenzy.
He himself disappeared again, then suddenly appeared in front of Xu Qi'an and punched him in the face.
Xu Qi'an seemed to have sensed it beforehand, and gently turned his head to avoid it. The Taiping Blade burst forth with light, slashing a bloody gash on the arm of this peak fourth-rank expert.
The power of the Heart Sword erupted, shaking the opponent's Primordial Spirit.
"A fine knife!"
Nurhega remained unaffected, his gaze fixed on Taiping Dao with fervor. Then, he delivered a headbutt, sending Xu Qi'an flying backward with a splitting headache.
That hammer blow just now was infused with the powerful Primordial Spirit energy of a fourth-grade wizard.
Ding ding ding.
Nurhega's fists rained down like a storm, forcing Xu Qi'an to retreat step by step, and causing golden waves of light to ripple.
"It really is a rock from a latrine, smelly and hard." Nurhega frowned.
Xu Qi'an charged forward, knife in hand.
Nurhe remained calm, opening his palm to grasp a piece of Xu Qi'an's clothing. "Die!"
Curse Killing Technique!
The paper burned, and a phantom Golden Core rose from above Xu Qi'an's head.
One Golden Core can break all laws!
Daoist School Golden Core Elixir.
Knowing that the other party was a high-level wizard, Xu Qi'an would naturally have been wary of his curse techniques.
The two paths crossed, and Xu Qi'an turned around, shaking the blood off his knife.
Nurhega lowered his head, revealing an exaggerated wound on his abdomen with intestines vaguely protruding. He gently wiped it away, and with a flash of blood, the wound was almost completely healed.
He seemed enraged, letting out a soft whistle. Suddenly, the dead soldiers around Xu Qi'an came to life, lunging at him recklessly and tearing at him with their mouths.
Taking advantage of the situation, Nurhega launched a charge, seizing that fleeting opportunity to successfully close in on Xu Qi'an.
The two martial artists, who had mastered the ability to neutralize internal energy, exchanged blows quickly. Their bodies sometimes twisted into bizarre postures to dodge attacks, and sometimes they threw punches continuously, ignoring inertia.
Outsiders couldn't see their moves or see their actions; they could only hear the loud thuds of flesh colliding.
At one point, Xu Qi'an, who was ultimately only at the fifth level of the Transformation Realm, was struck on the forehead by Yan Jun when his strength stagnated. He was then subjected to a terrible and continuous barrage of blows.
A high-level martial artist who seizes the initiative can wipe out other systems in one fell swoop.
They give no one a chance to breathe, because they control the power of neutralizing force, ignoring inertia, and their moves are perfectly connected.
Two flashes of light appeared as two generals attacked Nurhega from the left and right, interrupting his furious barrage of iron fists.
Huff, huff.
Xu Qi'an was breathing heavily, feeling pain all over his body, and a metallic taste in his throat. In terms of strength and aura, he was far inferior to the peak of the fourth rank.
Moreover, the opponent has a dual system.
What to do? A peak fourth-rank dual-system cultivator is the strongest below the third rank. There are no weaknesses in the physical body and Primordial Spirit. They can fly, manipulate objects, have strong defense, are incredibly terrifying in close combat, and have the blood spirit technique of a wizard to heal injuries.
How should I fight him? How can I kill him?
The thought had barely formed when a dark shadow was thrown at him; it was the general who had just come to Xu Qi'an's aid.
Xu Qi'an reached out and grabbed him, using a skillful force to deflect the force, and found that the general's bones were all broken and he was no longer able to fight.
The middle-aged general grinned, his mouth full of blood and foam, and gasped, "Xu Yinluo, I... I tried my best, but this bastard is too strong."
Xu Qi'an nodded. "Don't talk, rest. Leave the rest to me."
At this time, the battle on the city wall was fierce. As Nurhega led his experts to break through the city, the pressure on the enemy troops attacking the city below was greatly reduced. Enemy soldiers continued to climb up the city wall and engage in fierce fighting with the Great Feng army.
In particular, Su Gudu Red Bear, relying on his peak fourth-grade physique, withstood the attacks of Li Miaozhen and Zhang Kaitai, and wreaked havoc on the city walls, wantonly destroying everything in his path.
Even though he was constantly injured, for him, the best course of action was to cause chaos first, and if he couldn't win, he would simply escape.
Destroying the defensive magic Law Artifact of the Great Feng army is the only way to win.
No, we can't let them keep killing like this. The losses are too heavy, and it's a huge blow to the morale of the soldiers. In military campaigns, the worst thing is a lack of morale.
They must be driven back! They must be driven back!
I have Luo Yuheng's talisman sword, which can kill him, but it's inside the fragment of the Earth Book. Taking it out would be too obvious, and Nurhega, being a peak fourth-rank martial artist, would definitely be on guard.
Despite his thoughts, Xu Qi'an still blatantly reached into his robes, gently tapped the back of the jade mirror, and took out a piece of paper.
"Duke Wei marched to the capital of your Yan Kingdom and killed so many people. How many soldiers does Yan Kingdom have left? For this siege, you've summoned almost all the remaining capable soldiers, haven't you?"
Xu Qi'an tried to divert attention by saying, "Are you, Nurhega, gambling with the fate of the Yan Kingdom?"
Nurhega snorted coldly, offering no rebuttal, for it was the truth.
In fact, the majority of the 80,000-strong army were from the Kang Kingdom, with Yan Kingdom soldiers making up less than 30%.
Because they simply didn't have enough soldiers left, Wei Yuan nearly crippled the Yan Kingdom. On the other hand, the Kang Kingdom, being located by the sea, was spared from being trampled by Wei Yuan's iron cavalry, and its military strength remained relatively intact.
After this battle, it will take at least fifty years for the Yan Kingdom to recover its national strength, and if this siege is lost, it will almost certainly never recover.
During this siege, Nurhega did not mobilize the Flying Beast Army. The king was not a gambler; he wanted to leave a trump card for the Yan Kingdom, to preserve some seeds, even if this force was small in number.
Nurhega felt a pang of heartache, then stared at his hand, "What are you holding in your hand?"
Xu Qi'an nonchalantly shook the page. "Didn't you see it?"
Nurhega shook his head. "No, I meant the other hand. Something was hidden there just now."
"Damn it!" Xu Qi'an cursed inwardly, quickly burning the second page of paper, and said in a deep voice, "No killing!"
Buddhist School precepts.
Just then, a phantom black shadow descended above Nurhega's head, vaguely resembling a monk.
Nurhega said in a deep voice, "Invalid."
During the Battle of Shanhai Pass, Nurhega killed more than one monk. He could summon the spirits of monks much faster and more conveniently than Xu Qi'an.
But Nurhega parried the attack and quickly retreated, only to be wrong. Xu Qi'an had no intention of using his trump card against him. He turned and ran, leaping over the city wall, shouting as he did so:
"Miaozhen, take me there."
The flying sword whistled through the air as Xu Qi'an soared over the city wall, his target the red bear of Sugudu.
"Red Bear!"
Nurhega's expression changed.
He didn't know what methods Xu Qi'an had, but the moment that kid grabbed that thing, he felt uneasy; a martial artist's intuition for danger is exceptionally sharp.
If he is like this, what about the red bear of Sugudu?
As Sugudu Red Bear was engrossed in his killing spree, slaughtering the soldiers of Great Feng and destroying cannons and ballistae, a sense of alarm rose in his heart. Upon hearing Nurhega's reminder, he instinctively wanted to leap off the city wall without hesitation.
But the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect was a step ahead of him. While manipulating her flying sword to meet Xu Qi'an, she had already released her Yin spirit and let out a silent shriek.
Zhang Kaitai and the surrounding warriors and soldiers felt a sudden jolt in their minds, a momentary dizziness.
It was only for a fleeting moment.
"Roar!"
A deafening roar of a lion rang out, followed seamlessly.
Xu Qi'an, riding on his flying sword, approached and threw the talisman sword at Su Gudu Red Bear.
A magnificent Sword Qi floated between heaven and earth. The sword light was reflected in the eyes of Sugudu Red Bear, and his eyes and expression revealed a deep despair.
The next moment, all thoughts vanished.
Luo Yuheng's Sword Qi directly took away half of his body, but the area above his chest remained intact.
Xu Qi'an leaped down, stood on the top of the wall, grabbed the head of the red bear from Sugudu, and lifted it high.
He took a deep breath and roared like thunder, "The enemy chieftain is dead! Soldiers, kill the enemy!"
A thunderous roar of cheers erupted from the city walls.
The Great Feng, from generals to soldiers, was filled with fervor at this moment.
Below, the enemy army was in chaos, especially the Kangguo infantry. After seeing their leader beheaded, some wept bitterly, while others began to retreat and flee in panic.
Previously so powerful, now a stray dog.
"Xu Qi'an!"
Nurhega's face was ashen as he forced out those three words through gritted teeth.
In the first siege, the highest leader of the Kang army died on the city wall, which was certainly a great loss, but what was really bad was the collapse of morale.
The morale of the two allied forces was largely shattered by Xu Qi'an's sword strike.
On the battlefield, soldiers rely entirely on their morale to stay afloat; when the army collapses like a house of cards, that's when that morale is gone.
"Let's see how many cards you have up your sleeve!" he said through gritted teeth.
"Come on, I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve."
Xu Qi'an provoked from afar.
Nurhega said no more, leaped down from the city wall, summoned the phantom of a giant bird, and carried him back to the camp.
The morale of the Kang soldiers was already in disarray; continuing the siege would only lead to their deaths. He had to return first to stabilize the morale of his troops and regroup.
Fortunately, his reputation and martial prowess far surpass those of Sugudu Red Bear, so with him around, the army can remain stable.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The drums thundered as the enemy army retreated on a large scale, abandoning nearly five thousand soldiers in their retreat.
The setting sun was like blood.
In the blood-red sunset, the Great Feng troops of Dafeng silently cleared away the corpses of their enemies and comrades, and cleaned up their severed limbs.
Militiamen carried military equipment to the city walls, replenished crossbows and cannons, and repaired the damaged walls.
The first siege was so fierce.
Blood stained the city walls.
But the soldiers' eyes shone with light, because they had faith and a leader.
Luo Yuheng's talisman sword was used up, and I had exhausted my few trump cards. Xu Qi'an watched this scene silently with a slightly heavy heart.
He asked, "How many brothers were lost?"
Zhang Kaitai, standing beside him, grinned, revealing an ugly smile:
"Thirteen hundred men, sons of bitches! So many of my brothers have died in the first round of the siege, but the biggest losses were in the cannons and ballistae. These things need Warlock to repair, and it won't be able to be fixed overnight."
He sighed, "There will probably be even more deaths tomorrow. It's fortunate we have you, otherwise, even more would have died in this battle."
After Zhang Kaitai finished speaking, he noticed Xu Qi'an's convulsing hand, and his smile gradually faded, "How are your injuries?"
Xu Qi'an paused for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "My injuries are alright, I just need a night's rest, but..."
He paused, then didn't continue.
Zhang Kaitai frowned. "On the battlefield, the most taboo thing is to conceal information."
Xu Qi'an hesitated for a moment. "I'm out of cards."
Silence immediately followed.
After a long while, Zhang Kaitai sighed, "You should leave."
The usually stern swordsman smiled wryly and said, "I almost forgot that you are a fifth-rank expert. The brothers all thought you were a top-notch expert, the kind of expert who was stronger than all of us."
"I won't tell anyone this secret. Hmm, I'll just say you went to get reinforcements. Now that you've run out of trump cards, it's not a good idea for you to stay. Tomorrow, Nurhaci will definitely be after you relentlessly, whether it's for revenge or to boost morale."
He walked to the wall, one hand on the parapet, the other pointing to the enemy troops with their bonfires burning in the distance, and grinned:
"Look, the morale of the army has stabilized now. With Nurhega in charge, the morale of the Kang Kingdom's army won't fall into chaos. Perhaps tomorrow, they will attack the city with hatred in their hearts and be even more fearless in the face of death."
"I'm leaving, and the morale we finally built up has dissipated again." Xu Qi'an shook his head.
"Of course you have to go and ask for reinforcements, and inform the imperial court. Master Li can fly on a sword, and he's very fast. I'll try my best to hold out until the reinforcements arrive."
"I'm not leaving. Duke Wei stayed here, my brothers stayed here, and I should stay too. If we leave, what will happen to the people in the rear? Forty years ago, the Witch God Cult massacred the three prefectures of Xiangyang, Jingzhou, and Yuzhou. We cannot repeat the same mistake."
The man spoke calmly and composedly.
Just as an earthenware pot is bound to break at the wellhead, a general is destined to die on the battlefield.
Both are good endings.
There will be no reinforcements, no reinforcements at all. At least, you won't see them. Xu Qi'an opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't bear to tell him the truth.
At this moment, he saw a general with one hand on his sword, slowly walking forward on the city wall, shouting as he went:
"Beyond Yuyang Pass lie the people of Xiangzhou; we have nowhere left to retreat. This is the Witch God Cult's last counterattack. If we can hold out through this siege, victory will be assured. We also have reinforcements from the imperial court; we must hold out until they arrive."
The general immediately saw Xu Qi'an and exclaimed excitedly, "With Xu Yinluo here, the Witch God Sect can forget about attacking the city. If Nurhega comes again tomorrow, we'll make sure he doesn't leave alive!"
The soldiers around him suddenly brightened up.
Today, Xu Qi'an fought valiantly against Nurhega, killed Sugudu Red Bear, and repelled the enemy army, which is evident to all.
As expected of Xu Yinluo, that sword strike was truly beautiful.
With Xu Yinluo around, the Witch God Cult is nothing to worry about.
He always puts people at ease; he always gets things done perfectly.
He never let the people of Great Feng down.
Amidst expectant gazes, Xu Qi'an silently moved forward. He arrived at a deserted corner, gazing blankly at the enemy troops encamped in the distance.
The admiring looks the soldiers had given him made him feel somewhat ashamed.
Are you leaving? If you don't, you might die.
Behind her, Li Miaozhen appeared, dressed in an elegant Daoist robe.
Xu Qi'an remained silent for a long time before smiling and replying, "Do I look like someone who would walk away?"
You hesitated!
Li Miaozhen shook her head. "You didn't refuse Zhang Kaitai just now, did you?"
A book was thrown in front of her.
Li Miaozhen looked down and saw a thin book, almost nothing but the cover.
"That's it, only one page left." Xu Qi'an gazed into the distance and whispered:
"I don't want to leave, but I'm out of options. You have to admit your flaws, and my biggest flaw is that I'm not strong enough."
Zhao Shou had nearly exhausted the Law Technique books he had given him.
Only one page remains, which contains the Confucian School Law Follows Speech.
Even the best things eventually run out. Since heading to Chuzhou, he had been very frugal, but after using it for so long, it was almost used up.
"When you killed two dukes at the execution ground, didn't you ever think you weren't strong enough?"
Li Miaozhen clearly saw that the man's shoulders trembled slightly.
She looked at him, her eyes filled with pity and sorrow:
"After Wei Yuan died, your spine felt like it had broken. Although you pretended to be nonchalant, I could sense that you panicked. Without that backer, you lost confidence in everything you did."
The night wind howled, carrying a chilling edge.
Xu Qi'an said softly, "You're right. I was able to be so confident before because I had too many things to rely on. Duke Wei could always help me deal with the pressure from the court, shield me from the conspiracies and schemes in officialdom, and give me the best resources."
"Whenever I have any questions, difficulties, or unresolved confusion, the first person I think of is him. Even when the Purple Lotus Demon Path locked onto me..."
"Duke Wei took care of everything for me. With him around, I had no worries about what I did. After the Duke was executed, the Emperor tolerated me again and again. Now that I think about it, it wasn't just because of the Supervisor, but also because Duke Wei was protecting me. He's not some weak scholar; the whole capital knows I'm his trusted confidant. Even the Emperor has to be wary of him."
"But he suddenly left without warning. I was heartbroken and completely lost."
The figure remained upright, but in Li Miaozhen's eyes, it appeared lonely.
Upon closer examination, it seems that he has many advantages and powerful backers, but in reality, the only one he can truly rely on is Wei Yuan.
The supervisor's motives were unclear, and he could not be trusted. Shen Shu used his body to nurture his severed arm, and then fell into a deep sleep. Only Wei Yuan would selflessly grant his every request and protect him from harm.
His glory, his prestige, and his high spirits were all built on the premise that someone would shield him from the pressure.
Li Miaozhen bit her lip.
He paused, then said in a hoarse voice:
"There will be no reinforcements at all. The late emperor will definitely obstruct them and delay them again and again. Even if reinforcements do arrive in the end, these people will not be here. But I dare not say it. If I do, the morale of the army will completely collapse."
"But I really can't beat Nurhega. Those ordinary soldiers know nothing, naively thinking I'm invincible. You should leave; I want to be alone."
It turns out that man was really that important to him, so important that he collapsed the moment he lost him.
He was the faith and support of the soldiers defending the city, but where was his support?
His support collapsed, and he became flustered, fearful, and insecure.
They were no longer as spirited as they once were.
Li Miaozhen left, filled with sadness and disappointment.
Xu Qi'an sat atop the city wall, gazing at the distant nightscape.
In the distance, bonfires blazed brightly, scattered like stars across the sky.
Hidden within the firelight were executioners.
He stood motionless in the cold night for a long time, then took out Wei Yuan's letter.
Wei Yuan is dead. His last shred of hope has been extinguished, and he can finally read his last words.
"Xu Qi'an, if nothing unexpected happens, this is my last words. Do you remember I once told you that this world is far more cruel than you imagine?"
The purpose of this expedition is to seal the Witch God. The Confucian Sage sealed the Witch God, which involved a secret beyond the highest level, and I cannot tell you too much in this letter. More than a thousand years after the Confucian Sage's death, the Witch God has accumulated power and has initially broken through the seal.
This is a disaster for the Central Plains, for humanity, and even for the Nine Provinces. Confucian School has declined to this day and is no longer able to seal the Witch God. Since the Battle of Shanhai Pass, the Supervisor has been indifferent to worldly affairs, and I still can't understand what he wants to do.
The Great Feng Kingdom has been weak for so long that sealing the Witch God is something only we can do. We scholars should establish a heart for heaven and earth, Establishing Destiny for the people, continue the lost learning of the past sages, and create peace for all generations. This is what you said. Zhao Shou took me to the Temple of the Second Saint.
Well said. You truly are the successor I chose.
After this battle, the Witch God Cult may launch a full-scale counterattack. I seem to foresee rivers of blood flowing through the three prefectures of Xiang, Jing, and Yu. They are trying to shake the fortune of the Great Feng Dynasty, colluding with the late emperor from within and without, to dissipate the last vestiges of the Great Feng's fortune.
With your abilities, you must already know this secret. You are someone I value, and I always have the highest expectations for you.
The turmoil in the Central Plains is inevitable. You are the last hope of the Great Feng; half of Great Feng destiny rests on your shoulders. If you have made up your mind, go find Zhao Shou; I have something with him.
Xu Qi'an's vision seemed to blur. He turned the page of the letter and looked at the second page.
"Haven't you always wanted to know about my past? Life is full of disappointments, but there are only two or three things you can talk about with others. So I'll tell you about those two or three."
My ancestral home is Yuzhou. My father was the prefect of Yuzhou. Forty years ago, the Witch God Cult attacked and conquered the three prefectures of Xiangyang, Jingzhou, and Yuzhou, and carried out a massacre that lasted all night. My whole family died in that massacre.
My mother pushed me into a dry well, which saved me from certain death. I ate moss and insects in the well for seven days before daring to come out. The witch god cult withdrew, leaving behind a devastated land and corpses. I buried my family with my own hands.
At that time, I was in a daze, not knowing how to go on with my life, and even had suicidal thoughts. But the flames of hatred sustained me and I gritted my teeth and persevered. I walked thousands of miles to the capital to seek refuge with the Shangguan family.
Shangguan Pei was my father's best friend and classmate. The two traveled together when they were young and were once attacked by bandits. My father risked his life to save him.
On my first day at the Shangguan family home, I met the love of my life. It was a beautiful spring day, with flowers blooming in the garden and a soothing fragrance filling the air.
Beneath the shade of the trees, a girl smiled, holding a flower. At that moment, I felt as if struck by lightning; this was the girl I would protect and cherish for the rest of my life.
Her name was Shangguan Xixue, who later became the Empress. At the time, I didn't know that she was the woman I could never have in my life.
Perhaps my fate was sealed the moment I met her.
The years I spent at the Shangguan family's house were the happiest time of my life.
Shangguan Pei treated me like a son, no, even better than his own son. I studied with him day and night, hoping to pass the imperial examinations and marry him.
In the thirtieth year of the reign of Emperor Zhende, Emperor Zhende died, and Emperor Yuanjing succeeded to the throne. The emperor then selected his consorts.
Shangguan Pei had been waiting for this day for a long time. At that time, he was just a minor censor, eager to climb the ranks. The stunningly beautiful Xixue was his important bargaining chip, and he planned to send Xixue into the palace.
Left with no other choice, we attempted to elope, leaving the capital for a place where no one could find us. I was willing to abandon my future, and she was willing to abandon wealth and status.
But I was just a scholar at the time, and I was caught and brought back not long after I escaped.
I will never forget that day. Shangguan Pei, the man my father risked his life to save, my father's best friend, the man who kept saying I was the only son of the Wei family, had me castrated.
"You love her, don't you? Then I'll let you stay with her forever. The harem is dangerous, murderous intent at every turn. If you truly love her, then stay with her." These were the last words Shangguan Pei said to me.
This is the most humiliating disgrace imaginable.
I was unwilling to accept my fate. After much agonizing reflection, I began to study Martial Dao diligently, hoping to become a complete man and strong enough to take her away from the palace.
In the sixth year of Yuanjing's reign, my past with her was told to Yuanjing, who accused me of having an affair with her. Yuanjing was furious and wanted to depose the empress and kill her. Just then, General Dugu in the north passed away, the barbarians invaded, and the northern border was thrown into chaos.
I made a solemn vow: I would not return until I achieved victory. That was the beginning of my rise to power.
After that, my cultivation level rose higher and higher, and Yuan Jing held her firmly in his grasp. After the victory at the Battle of Shanhai Pass, I was invincible in the country. Yuan Jing secretly hid her away and summoned me, threatening me with her life to force me to abandon my cultivation.
I agreed. The supervisor scolded me for being blinded by love and short-sighted, but I didn't argue. In the darkest time of my life, she illuminated my world; she was my light.
In the twenty years that followed, I personally killed Shangguan Pei, used the Fufei case to kill the Imperial Uncle, and severed the Shangguan family's bloodline. The past was wiped clean. As my power increased, I gradually began to think about doing something for the Great Feng and for the people.
For twenty years I served as a eunuch in the imperial court, trying to save this declining nation, and gradually I stopped paying attention to her. It is a blessing that my husband has dedicated himself to the country.
In the end, it was I who wronged her.
I had thought I would be alone for the rest of my life, until the year of Capital Evaluation, when your appearance brought me joy. I am not alone after all. How wonderful!
My only regret is that I never got to hear you sing that song; it was a very interesting song. But my life has too many regrets, so I won't dwell on them.
May the Great Feng have another Xu Qi'an after Wei Yuan.
Wei Yuan!
Whoosh. The letter burned, Xu Qi'an opened his arms, letting the wind carry it away.
He sat on the city wall all night.
At dawn, the first rays of sunlight shone on the desolate plains and on the blood-stained city walls.
Knock knock knock.
The dull yet resounding drumbeats echoed, and the desolate horns sounded. The infantry of the Yan and Kang kingdoms attacked the city once more, a dark mass resembling a swarm of ants.
Nurhega sat on horseback,
The Great Feng soldiers awoke with a start and rushed up the city wall with their weapons.
The soldiers who had been resting against the parapet, still clutching their knives in their sleep, were now awake, their faces showing exhaustion, their eyes burning with murderous intent.
Inside the barbican, Zhang Kaitai, carrying his sword, strode out with great pride.
A figure in a blue robe stood atop the wall.
At that moment, he almost cried out in surprise, thinking that the figure in blue robes he remembered had come to life.
"Xu Qi'an, you..." Zhang Kaitai's expression was complicated.
"We can't let Nurhega and the others climb up the city walls again. It would be too much of a loss for us, and we wouldn't be able to hold out for long." Xu Qi'an didn't turn around.
Zhang Kaitai certainly understood this principle, but if they didn't defend, were they supposed to fight to the death under the city walls?
With a full 70,000 elite troops, they were already exhausted from killing, not to mention the experts like Nurhega. Leaving the city walls meant certain death.
At this moment, he heard Xu Qi'an say, "I'll go, I'll go break through the enemy lines; that will relieve the pressure on the soldiers."
Zhang Kaitai roared, "Are you crazy?"
Xu Qi'an shook his head. "I'm not crazy. Not only can it relieve the pressure on the soldiers, but it can also boost morale. If I could, I would kill Nurhega."
Did Nurhega get killed?
Zhang Kaitai felt that he had truly gone mad.
Behind us lies the hometown of Duke Wei.
He immediately added a sentence that left Zhang Kaitai speechless.
Li Miaozhen leaped onto the city wall on her flying sword, her face expressionless and her eyes gloomy. She first looked down at the enemy army charging towards her, their battle cries deafening.
Then, as if sensing something, she turned her head and looked at the figure in green standing on the parapet.
"Miaozhen, may I borrow your Golden Core core?"
His eyes were clear and bright, his demeanor was composed, and the arrogant spirit between his brows reappeared.
Li Miaozhen's eyes widened.
Having mastered the Heavenly Sect's mental cultivation method, she clearly sensed that this man was undergoing a subtle transformation.
Li Miaozhen stammered, "You..."
His smile was radiant, "I've reached the fourth rank!"
How many roads does a boy have to walk to grow up? Maybe a lifetime, or maybe, overnight.
He rose to the fourth rank overnight.
How powerful is Xu Qi'an, a fourth-rank official? Nobody knows.
Li Miaozhen's vision blurred for a moment. "Okay!"
For Daoist School cultivators, losing their Golden Core is tantamount to temporarily losing their foundation and their cultivation.
No amount of Golden Core could compare to his smile.
A triumphant roar erupted from the city wall:
"Xu Qi'an, the warrior of the Great Feng Dynasty, has come to break through the enemy lines!"
According to a folk legend of the Great Feng Dynasty, Xu Qi'an, the Silver Xu Qi'an, single-handedly held off tens of thousands of rebel troops in Yunzhou and quelled the rebellion with his own strength.
How could he let the people down?
Between heaven and earth, a figure in green swallowed Golden Core and leaped off the city wall.
P. S.: I wrote all night long. I originally wrote more than 10,000 words, but then I felt it wasn't very good. I showed the draft to a friend, and we discussed it and deleted it and started over.
And then it was dawn.