A figure descended gracefully, landing on the snow-covered corridor. It was Qin Cheng, a Sword Cultivator of the Eleventh Realm from the Mo family. He cupped his fists and respectfully said, "Please instruct me, Miss Hanyin."
"Young Master Qin, come in. Drinking a cup of tea with Hanyin is not considered impolite."
As she spoke, Shi Hanyin pushed a cup of tea forward.
Qin Cheng was overjoyed and flattered. He gently shook off the accumulated snow from his body and the dust from his feet, then floated in. He sat down opposite Shi Hanyin across a tea table. This was the first time in many years that Shi Hanyin had invited him inside for a chat.
"Shanhai Pass has been breached."
Shi Hanyin looked into the distance and said, "The demon and devil armies are advancing south. It won't be long before they lay siege to Yunzhou City, or even breach it."
"So."
Qin Cheng frowned and said, "Miss Hanyin, you should leave with me. Even if you don't wish to wander the world with Qin Cheng, anywhere you wish to go, Qin Cheng will escort you safely. Afterward, if Miss Hanyin no longer wishes to see me, I will leave and will not disturb you further."
"Leave?"
Shi Hanyin suddenly smiled. Her smile was like a spring breeze, yet it held endless sorrow. She looked at Qin Cheng with her beautiful eyes and said, "The human race has been locked in a fierce struggle with the demon and devil races for nearly ten years. How many people have died in the north? Now, the demon race is about to invade the heartland of our Great Shang. Everyone wants to leave, but where can they go in the end?"
"Miss Hanyin..."
Qin Cheng frowned, revealing his feelings. "I know that for these many years, I have guarded Yunzhou City and stayed by your side. You have never felt any gratitude. After all, there is someone in Miss Hanyin's heart, and that person unleashed a world-shattering sword strike at Xueyu Tianchi, slaying a great demon, cleaving Mount Wuwang, and ultimately sacrificing himself for the realm..."
He looked up at her and said, "Therefore, Miss Hanyin must inevitably compare. Compared to Lin Baiyi, what difference is there between Qin Cheng, a sword cultivator of the Upper Five Realms who dare not venture north to wield his sword, and a useless person?"
"You worry too much."
Shi Hanyin smiled gently. "Each person's path is their own. Just as Young Master Qin wishes to stay here, Hanyin has no right to interfere. As for comparing you with Lin Zhao, that is even more impossible."
Her beautiful eyes were like water as she said softly, "In this world, what man can be compared to him?"
Qin Cheng almost burst into tears.
Shi Hanyin said softly, "Moreover, I asked Young Master Qin to come in for a chat not to discuss these matters."
"Then what?" Qin Cheng was bewildered.
Shi Hanyin took out another brocade box and slowly pushed it forward. Opening the box, it was filled with gleaming golden Buzhi coins. "These are over seven hundred Buzhi coins, Hanyin's last savings. I wish to ask Young Master Qin to help me with something using this money."
"Oh?"
Qin Cheng cupped his fists. "Please instruct me, Miss!"
However, when Shi Hanyin finished stating her request, Qin Cheng was struck by lightning. His face turned pale. He had never imagined that guarding Yunxiang Tower for ten years would lead to such a result. Yet, was this not the resolute woman Qin Cheng had always dreamed of? It was just... he felt unworthy.
"What, Young Master Qin is unwilling to do this for Hanyin?" Shi Hanyin asked.
"No."
Qin Cheng took a deep breath, stood up, cupped his fists, and bowed extremely low. "It is my honor in this life to be able to complete this task for you, Miss. However, perhaps you should reconsider?"
"There is no need."
Shi Hanyin smiled slightly. "Thinking about one matter for eight years, do you need more time?"
...
Lin Zhao floated in the air, continuing to review the events of the past eight years.
A Yunzhou City was engulfed in a dense inferno of war.
The demon and devil races, with a combined force of over 3 million, besieged and attacked Tianji City. The siege lasted for a full half-year. Chen Xi, with only 200,000 troops, stubbornly resisted the enemy's millions-strong offensive for half a year. After half a year, the supplies within the city were depleted, and over half of the defending soldiers had perished.
One evening, the grain and fodder in Yunzhou City ran out.
Chen Xi stood atop the city walls, his face smudged with the grime of gunpowder. He looked at the mountains of corpses and the stench outside the city, his beautiful eyes filled with helplessness.
"Marshal!"
Behind him, a group of generals gathered. Among them, Chen Yu, his left arm injured, knelt on one knee and said, "The city is now completely out of grain and fodder. If we continue to defend... we surely cannot hold on. In a few days, when the last of our provisions are exhausted, we will all starve to death within the city. By then, the demon race will enter Yunzhou City without a fight!"
"That's right, Marshal!"
An old general, wielding a battle saber with numerous nicks, said, "Rather than wait for death, it is better to fight to the death!"
"Mm."
Chen Xi nodded slowly. He looked at his generals and asked, "How much food do we have left?"
"Only enough for one more day."
Chen Yu said, "There are still some livestock in the city, and some jerky and dried meat that we have stored."
"Good."
Chen Xi took a deep breath. "Give the order. Tomorrow at dawn, we will start cooking. Bring out all the good meat and wine. We will have one final feast to reward the army. After all the Cangnan Iron Cavalry have eaten their fill, they will follow me to break out of the city and fight the demon and devil races to the death!"
"Yes!"
Everyone nodded in unison.
At this moment, only one general stood apart, not having received the order. It was the commander of the patrol legion of Tianji City, named Jia Chen.
"Jia Chen."
Chen Xi looked at this not-so-familiar commander and said, "There are still twenty to thirty thousand patrol guards in the city, but they are all infantry and archers, without warhorses. What are your thoughts? Will you join us in breaking out to fight the demon race to the death, or will you remain to defend Tianji City?"
"Someone has to watch the gate."
Jia Chen clasped his fists to his chest and said solemnly, "Marshal, please go out and fight to your heart's content. I, Jia Chen, will lead my brothers to defend the city. If Marshal fails to break through, there will still be a path for your return."
"Good."
Chen Xi nodded. "Since that is the case, the city is entrusted to you."
"Yes!"
...
The next morning.
Before dawn, the eighty thousand Cangnan Iron Cavalry in the city gathered around bonfires, drinking meat soup and eating flatbreads in silence. After everyone had eaten their fill and rested for a while, Chen Xi mounted his horse. With a wave of his hand, tens of thousands of cavalry mounted their horses. Then, the city gates opened, and Chen Xi led the way, charging out of the city with eighty thousand cavalry into the unexpected demon and devil armies.
The ensuing battle lasted for three full days.
In the end, Chen Xi's eighty thousand Cangnan Iron Cavalry were reduced to less than thirty thousand. He himself was heavily wounded by Long Zheng and Feng Quan. It was only with the assistance of accompanying cultivators that he survived. He led the less than thirty thousand Cangnan Iron Cavalry through the encirclement. Although they escaped, they could no longer return to Tianji City.
On his horse, Chen Xi's body was covered in sword wounds. He looked back at Tianji City, knowing he could not return. He had no choice but to lead his men south to rendezvous with Zhao Shutong and Han Yetang's forces.
"Boom!"
A brilliant sword light swept across, and the north gate of Tianji City was directly blasted open. The one who blasted open the city gate was Long Zheng, a Great Demon of the Twelfth Realm.
Yu Zhi rode a warhorse, clad in a red leather jacket. Riding alongside her was a young and handsome demon commander, the Divine Cavalry Captain Yu Feng. Yu Feng, who had been constantly transferring troops from Yan Province, now commanded nearly 300,000 demon cavalry, making him a formidable commander. His military power was so great that even Yu Zhi had to treat him with courtesy.
"Lord Yu Feng."
Yu Zhi looked at the empty Yunzhou City and did not order the demons to enter. She smiled calmly and said, "The Ni Chang Heavenly Realm has contributed greatly to helping the demon race capture Yunzhou. Since that is the case, this Yunzhou City will be handed over to you. Although it is an empty city, it is after all the capital of Yunzhou. The city is strong and can be considered a treasure land."
"Oh?"
Yu Feng looked surprised and smiled, "Handing Yunzhou City to our divine race, where will Lady Yu Zhi lead the demon race?"
"Continue south."
Yu Zhi narrowed her eyes and smiled, "I will not give the human race any chance to breathe. We will press on south and capture Bai Di City, completely crushing the backbone of the human race!"
"Good!"
Yu Feng nodded. "Since that is the case, we of the Ni Chang Heavenly Realm will gladly accept this Yunzhou City. After a brief rest, we will march south and rendezvous with Lady Yu Zhi beneath Bai Di City!"
"Alright, it's a deal!"
Yu Zhi gently raised her hand and led the demon army around Yunzhou City, continuing south.
...
As the morning sun illuminated Yunzhou City, figures of defending soldiers appeared on the city walls. Yu Feng led the mighty demon cavalry closer. Looking at the defenders on the city walls, the Eleventh Realm martial artist narrowed his eyes and smiled. He spoke in a loud voice, "Divine Cavalry Captain Yu Feng, leading the divine race army to attack the city. Do you surrender, or fight to the death?"
On the city walls, the defending commander Jia Chen, holding his steel saber, dropped it with a clang. He knelt on the city wall and said, "I, Jia Chen, am willing to lead the twenty thousand brothers in the city to surrender. We are willing to serve the divine race cavalry wholeheartedly!"
"Hahahaha~~~~"
Yu Feng burst into laughter.
The defending soldiers were already weak from hunger. Seeing Jia Chen surrender, they were not surprised. It seemed everything was as expected, as Jia Chen was not a person with much backbone to begin with.
In the air, Lin Zhao's consciousness surveyed Yunzhou City and could not help but frown. This must be the first human army to surrender to the enemy in eight years.
"Enter the city slowly!"
Yu Feng raised his fist and said solemnly, "Although this Yunzhou City is now an empty city, there must still be a considerable amount of wealth that cannot be taken away. Brothers, listen to my command. The north city belongs to the First Legion, the south city to the Second Legion, the west city to the Third Legion, and the east city to the Fourth Legion. Each legion will reassign their territories and must not quarrel, or face military law!"
"Yes, Commander!"
...
The demon cavalry entered the city and advanced unimpeded.
Among them, a Divine Cavalry Captain narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the brightly colored Yunxiang Tower.
It was none other than Chen Chong, one of the Ten Great Divine Cavalry Captains. Born into poverty, his nature was greedy and fierce, and he was always disdained by Yu Feng.
"Lord Yu Feng."
Chen Chong looked at Yunxiang Tower and smiled, "I heard that the courtesan of this Yunxiang Tower is named Shi Hanyin, renowned as the most beautiful woman in the Great Shang Dynasty, said to be both talented and beautiful. This Yunxiang Tower must have long since been abandoned. I wonder if that Shi Hanyin is still here."
"Hmph!"
Yu Feng's ambition was for the entire realm. He never wasted time on women. He merely sneered and said, "If Lord Chen Chong is interested, then this Yunxiang Tower will be yours."
"Good, thank you!"
Chen Chong, full of excitement, led his men to Yunxiang Tower.
Yu Feng watched with cold eyes. What a good-for-nothing. His strategy was poor, his formations were weak, his cultivation was mediocre, and he even lacked self-control. To be named alongside such a person was truly a disgrace!