The Great Shang Dynasty, Jizhou.
The capital of the Great Shang Dynasty, White Emperor City.
...
Feather-like snow drifted down from the sky. This was already the third year of harsh winter in White Emperor City. For these three years, the human realm had no seasons, only a prolonged winter. The dynasty's subjects reaped no harvests, and famine spread across the land, leaving corpses strewn everywhere. To survive, people ventured into the mountains and valleys, digging for food beneath the snow, hoping to live on.
White Emperor City was now truly white.
Within the northern city gate of the capital, a tall building pierced the sky, towering over its surroundings. The Wangbei Tower, a pavilion funded by the Prime Minister's estate.
At this moment, on the Wangbei Tower, a biting wind whistled. A pot of coarse wine had just been warmed.
"Lord Marquis, would you like some dishes to accompany the wine?"
A middle-aged official, clad in the second-rank official attire of the imperial court, asked cautiously.
"No need. Wine with snow is sufficient."
The speaker was a middle-aged man with an scholarly air, dressed in a white scholar's robe. He had a remarkably dignified appearance, his eyes gazing northwards. This was the Marquis Wen of the Great Shang Dynasty, Wen Shuoyang, a renowned scholar in the literary world, and concurrently, a man of officialdom in a secular dynasty.
Marquis Wen's reputation had always been rather poor. It was he who had negotiated peace with the four northern tribes and established the Lingnan Alliance. From the day he stepped into the court of Great Shang, he had vehemently opposed the "Northern Expedition." Because of this, his animosity with Marquis Wu, Yue Hao, had grown increasingly irreconcilable. Their standoff in the court was no longer a secret.
"How are things in the north?"
Wen Shuoyang asked.
The middle-aged official bowed slightly in respect and replied, "The Yunyin Division reports that Marquis Wu, Yue Hao, has arrived at Guyao Pass with his hundred thousand troops. Concurrently, Marquis Wu's orders have spread throughout Yunzhou, Yanzhou, and Ningzhou."
"Only the three northern prefectures?"
Wen Shuoyang frowned. "Yue Hao bypassing my intention for a Northern Expedition is so obvious; His Majesty surely cannot be unaware."
"Indeed."
The middle-aged official said, "Before Marquis Wu left White Emperor City, he had an audience with His Majesty late at night, after which he departed the capital with the troop deployment token."
"It seems His Majesty has tacitly approved."
Wen Shuoyang rubbed his temples. "This world, I fear, is truly about to change."
The middle-aged official looked surprised. "Why does Marquis Wen say so?"
"Why?"
Wen Shuoyang's eyes held a chilling glint. "The three northern prefectures, Yunzhou with its five hundred thousand cavalry, and Ningzhou and Yanzhou with their two hundred thousand armored soldiers each. If all are committed to the northern front and annihilated, the defense of the northern three prefectures of the human realm will be completely hollow. At this juncture, if the demon, devil, and ghost races were to descend en masse, what do you think the outcome would be? Do you truly believe that a single Fusang Great Wall and six northern strongholds can defend this vast human realm?"
"Ah?"
The middle-aged official was aghast. "Then what should we... do?"
"Follow me to see His Majesty."
Marquis Wen rose, his gaze sweeping northwards once more. "The armored soldiers and cavalry of the three southern prefectures, Huangzhou, Yuzhou, and Furongzhou, should be redeployed northwards as soon as possible."
"Yes, my lord!"
...
Late at night.
Lin Zhao, who had slept for an entire day, finally awoke. His injuries were healing rapidly. The trials of a decisive battle against a Nascent Soul stage cultivator had greatly benefited his martial arts and sword cultivation. He took a deep breath, rose, put on clean clothes, opened the door, and after practicing a dozen sets of punches, his internal qi surged. Three Sword Lakes spun slowly at different speeds. At this moment, the young man felt refreshed and extremely comfortable.
A sixth-stage martial artist, a second-stage sword cultivator. His foundations were becoming increasingly solid.
And now, under the moonlight, Lin Zhao was no longer the dark, skinny boy from the small town. His face had gradually become fuller and more radiant, exuding an aura of a young prodigy. Standing in the courtyard, he was like a towering pine, his body flowing with boxing intent, his spirit unyielding, full of youthful vigor.
"Young Master."
Just then, from a corner of the courtyard, a young girl in an apricot-yellow dress emerged. She was exceptionally dignified and beautiful, her eyes clear and captivating, making her instantly likable. Her figure was petite and slender, yet her chest was also full. Looking at Lin Zhao, she curtsied lightly and said softly, "Good evening, Young Master..."
"Hmm."
Lin Zhao frowned as he looked at her. "Who are you?"
"I am a maidservant from the Peak Villa."
"Why are you not asleep yet?"
"I..." She pursed her red lips. "I was about to sleep, but I saw you alone in the courtyard, feeling lonely, so I wanted to keep you company, even if it was just to talk."
"No need."
Lin Zhao waved his hand gently. "I'm fine alone."
"Young Master..."
Her gaze was pleading. "Does Young Master dislike this humble one for her low status?"
"Not exactly..."
Lin Zhao could sense a faint demonic energy emanating from her, a very subtle kind. This energy was innate, and its faintness was largely due to living among humans for too long, thus diluting the demonic energy and increasing her human warmth.
"Then why refuse this humble one?"
Tears welled up in the woman's beautiful eyes, evoking a sense of pity. "If Young Master is willing, I am willing to spend this night with you, so as not to waste the moonlight in this courtyard."
"Actually."
Lin Zhao glanced at an apricot tree in the corner of the small courtyard. "I think I can guess your origin and background."
In Mr. Qin's bookstore, a book of strange tales had mentioned such beings as the one before him.
An apricot spirit, a spirit transformed from an apricot tree. If ordinary, wealthy, or vulgar people resided in the courtyard, they would avoid it and never appear. However, if a young man with scholarly aspirations or outstanding talent but unfulfilled ambitions moved in, they would appear to serve him. Afterward, they would not harm the man, merely sharing a fleeting moment.
However, experiencing too many such bizarre and alluring encounters could inevitably wear down one's fighting spirit and damage the great path.
"Young Master?"
The apricot spirit called out softly.
"Yes."
Lin Zhao said, "Cultivate diligently, and do not overstep your bounds. You have not harmed anyone, so I will not kill you."
"Yes..."
The apricot spirit appeared dejected. "This humble one obeys!"
...
After another round of boxing, Lin Zhao returned to his room to rest.
While Lin Zhao was asleep, a white figure emerged from the ancient sword beneath his pillow and went straight to the apricot tree in the courtyard. She lightly stomped her foot and said, "Come out."
The apricot spirit quickly appeared, her face pale with shock. She could feel the terrifying aura of this beautiful woman in white. Killing her would likely require no effort; a single breath could scatter her.
"Do you know your mistake?"
The White Dragon Goddess smiled.
"I know... I know my mistake..."
The apricot spirit was so frightened that she cried, kneeling on the ground with tears streaming down her face. "Immortal, spare me... Immortal, spare me. I never intended to harm Young Master Lin Zhao. I merely admired... admired Young Master, so I wanted to keep him company..."
"Admired him, and therefore wished to keep him company?"
The White Dragon Goddess raised an eyebrow. "This is a grave transgression. You, do you think you are worthy?"
"Not worthy..."
The apricot spirit kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead becoming swollen and red. "I will never dare again..."
"Hmph!"
The White Dragon Goddess moved her sleeves, and a speck-sized light appeared, gently tapping the apricot spirit's brow. She said, "You, cultivate diligently, and do not court death, understand? Even if you eventually cultivate into some leader of spirits, becoming a great apricot tree demon, you must not bring harm to the world. You originate from the human realm, and all your spiritual energy comes from the human realm. You should know to repay kindness."
"I understand... I understand..."
The apricot spirit cried, "Thank you, Immortal, for your guidance."
"Hmph~~~"
A tiny speck of light appeared on the White Dragon Goddess's fingertip and merged into the apricot spirit's brow. "Considering your good intentions towards Lin Zhao, I will aid your cultivation slightly. Go back now."
Instantly, the apricot spirit's beautiful eyes widened. Her form began to change rapidly, her beauty becoming more refined, her figure more voluptuous and full. In just a moment, she had gained several hundred years of cultivation, already becoming a mid-tier spirit. However, she was a spirit of the human realm, not one of the "monsters, devils, ghosts, and specters" of the four northern tribes.
The apricot spirit gracefully returned to the apricot tree.
The White Dragon Goddess also transformed into a streak of white light and entered the sword blade. Lin Zhao, meanwhile, was sound asleep, completely unaware of the events outside.
...
Northern Border, Guyao Pass.
Within the pass, countless tents stretched in an unbroken line. Cavalry from Yunzhou arrived one after another, as did supplies and equipment. In the past few days, the assembled forces had grown steadily, forming encampments stretching for dozens of miles.
Inside the command tent.
Marquis Wu, Yue Hao, was gently polishing his battle sword. This sword had followed him for many years, and it had slain many demons, even severing the head of an eleventh-stage great demon. However, as he unsheathed it again, Yue Hao did not know what the outcome would be. At this moment, he could see no future, like a traveler braving the wind and snow in the dead of night. The final result of this surprise attack would depend on fate.
"My Lord!"
A commanding officer strode into the tent, dust-covered. "The cavalry from the four southern prefectures of Yunzhou have also arrived one after another. Just now, the roster was filled, and the results from the military scribe's office are out."
"How many cavalry have arrived from Yunzhou?" Marquis Wu asked, looking up.
"A total of five hundred and thirty thousand!"
The general's expression was filled with joy. "That's even more than we anticipated!"
"Hmm!"
Yue Hao seemed to exhale a sigh of relief. "When will the provisions from Ningzhou and Yanzhou arrive? Furthermore, where have the infantry from the two prefectures reached? Will they arrive at Guyao Pass by the fifteenth of this month?"
"The two hundred thousand Ningzhou armored soldiers departed from the prefectural capital ten days ago. The two hundred thousand Yanzhou armored soldiers departed from the old capital of the Great Chen Dynasty thirteen days ago. They should arrive before the fifteenth of this month!"
"Understood."
Yue Hao placed down his sword. "Can the provisions transported from Jizhou, Shuzhou, and Liangzhou arrive earlier? Immediately send out more swift messages to urge the provisions. We must not let the provisions arrive after the four hundred thousand armored soldiers."
"Yes, your subordinate will attend to it immediately!"
"Wait."
"Does my Lord have further instructions?"
"Is there any news from Marquis Wen?"
"None."
...
Marquis Wu let out a soft sigh. "Go."