Mornings.
The entire Death Squad was training in mass cavalry charges and attacks. Lin Zhao, the commander, watched for a while before letting Xu Zhi, Luo Yang, and Mu Zha take charge of the command and going to Chu Huaixi's command tent himself.
Outside the command tent, two personal guards recognized Lin Zhao and cupped their fists in greeting, "Commander Lin!"
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao was still not entirely accustomed to this title. He said, "Is Commander Chu in the tent? I wish to seek an audience."
"Very well, I shall announce you!"
The cavalryman turned and entered, stating in a deep voice, "Commander Chu, Commander Lin Zhao of the Death Squad requests an audience!"
"Let him in."
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao lifted the curtain and stepped into the command tent, only to find Chu Huaixi and Chen Yu present. His heart sank slightly, but he mustered his courage and stepped forward, saying, "Lin Zhao has something he wishes to ask of Commander Chu!"
"Oh?"
Chu Huaixi looked up and asked with a smile, "What is it? Speak first!"
"I want a Flying Fish Messaging formation."
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "On my travels south, I made two friends, a man and a woman. They are inseparable in life and death, but are destined never to meet. They can only communicate through written messages to convey their longing, so... I wish to purchase a Flying Fish Messaging formation from the Heavenly Pond Army to establish one between their two locations."
"Oh, I see..."
Chu Huaixi raised an eyebrow and smiled, "For one Flying Fish Messaging formation, purchasing a trained Golden Fin Flying Fish alone costs at least ten Golden Cicada coins. Adding the cost of refining the talisman seals, it will be at least twenty Golden Cicada coins. The future upkeep of the Golden Fin Flying Fish will also be a significant expense. Lin Zhao, are you sure you want to build a Flying Fish Messaging formation for them?"
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao said, "I have money..."
Chu Huaixi chuckled, "It seems the limerick about the Great Wall of Fusu was not just a rumor... 'Plucking feathers from a passing goose, Lin San Quan; crossing the Great Wall is like celebrating the New Year.' You really did plunder the Great Wall of Fusu, didn't you?"
"Not exactly..."
Lin Zhao felt a bit embarrassed. "It was just going with the flow. Whoever was willing to be caught, was caught. Besides, those Sword Immortals and cultivators above the fifth realm at the Great Wall of Fusu are all very wealthy; they won't miss this little bit."
"Heh heh~~" Chen Yu let out a light laugh.
Chu Huaixi waved his hand grandly, "Forget it. You don't need to pay. Last time you led two thousand cavalry to attack the demon army's encampment, that was a contribution of immense magnitude, and I didn't know how to reward you. Since you've asked today, the cost of building this Flying Fish Messaging formation will be borne by our Heavenly Pond Army. Where is Old Huang?"
Huang Tingyu immediately stepped forward and cupped his fists, "Huang Tingyu is here!"
"Immediately select a Golden Fin Flying Fish with abundant spiritual energy from the army's stock, and then order the army's formation masters to craft two talisman seals for this Golden Fin Flying Fish. Once branded, hand it over to Lin Zhao."
"Yes!"
...
Afternoon.
Old Huang entered the Death Squad's camp, holding a Golden Fin Flying Fish in his arms. The fish swayed its tail gently in the wind, disappearing and reappearing in an instant, its speed like flowing light. This was precisely why mountain sects and secular dynasties established Flying Fish Messaging formations. Once a Golden Fin Flying Fish took flight, it could travel tens of thousands of miles in a day. Furthermore, a flying Golden Fin Flying Fish was utterly silent, making it impossible to capture or hunt. Thus, this type of fish had become one of the most prized treasures in the world.
Huang Tingyu placed the Golden Fin Flying Fish into Lin Zhao's hand. It felt like jade and had no fishy smell at all.
"These two are the talisman seals."
Huang Tingyu placed two talisman seals in Lin Zhao's hand and said, "Each person gets one of these. Once the Golden Fin Flying Fish is released, it will seek out the other one at a distance."
"I understand."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Thank you, Brother Huang! However, there's one more thing I need to trouble you with. Are you free?"
"Yes, tell me."
"Can you give me a ride?"
"Certainly."
Old Huang pinched his nose and chuckled, "Then... you have to treat me to a drink!"
"A trivial matter!"
Lin Zhao took out his bamboo box, placed the Golden Fin Flying Fish and the two talisman stones inside, then took Huang Tingyu to a small town. At the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, he exchanged 50 Golden Cicada coins for a full 5000 Flying Fish coins, which he tucked heavily into his embrace. After everything was done, he turned to Huang Tingyu and said, "Take me to Copper Mirror Lake first?"
"Where?"
"On the map, I'll show you."
"Alright!"
...
The next second, Huang Tingyu conjured his long sword, and with a flash of sword light, the two of them ascended into the sky on their flying swords. Shortly thereafter, they arrived at the legendary Copper Mirror Lake, its surface as calm and reflective as a mirror.
"Hmm?"
Huang Tingyu squinted his eyes, looking at the Copper Mirror Lake before him. He chuckled, "A Peach Blossom Demon, and a Reed Flower Demon. The Peach Blossom Demon's life essence has transformed into this lake. The lake water has long since merged with the surrounding world, making it impossible for it to travel far. If it were to travel a thousand miles, perhaps the Peach Blossom Demon would face annihilation."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao and Huang Tingyu landed by the lake. Lin Zhao cupped his fists gently and said, "Miss Han, it's Lin Zhao. I have something for you!"
Immediately, the lake water parted, and a Peach Blossom Demon in a pink dress, accompanied by a Reed Flower Demon in green, emerged. They bowed gracefully to Lin Zhao, "Yu Rou greets you, Young Master! I didn't expect you to return so soon..."
"Ahem, this time it's for a different matter."
Lin Zhao took a step forward, presented the Golden Fin Flying Fish and one talisman seal, then handed 5000 Flying Fish coins to the Reed Flower Demon. After that, he explained how to use the Flying Fish Messaging system.
"Young Master..."
The Peach Blossom Demon was so overcome with joy that tears streamed down her face. "How can Yu Rou ever repay you?"
"You don't need to."
Lin Zhao said, "I consider both you and Zhang Xicheng my friends, and friends should do this for each other."
The Peach Blossom Demon nodded repeatedly and knelt down again to express her gratitude.
Lin Zhao quickly helped her up, then bid farewell and left with Huang Tingyu.
"Tsk tsk..."
Huang Tingyu grinned, "What a beautiful Peach Blossom Demon! She truly has a face like a peach blossom. And her figure too... Heavens, Lin Zhao, who do you think is more beautiful, her or Lin Wanhua from the Great Wall of Fusu?"
"Both are beautiful."
Lin Zhao didn't want to offend anyone. He glared and said, "Aren't we leaving with our swords? We should be going to Sunset Valley?"
"Alright!"
Huang Tingyu raised his sword and said, "I'm a Sword Immortal trapped in the life of a messenger!"
Behind them, the Peach Blossom Demon and the Reed Flower Demon giggled. They could naturally see that Lin Zhao's cultivation had greatly improved, and the old man who accompanied him was an unparalleled master. The way he ascended into the sky with his sword was truly extraordinary!
...
Sunset Valley.
As dusk approached and the sun began to set, the heroic souls in Sunset Valley emerged one by one from the rifts between heaven and earth. Countless armored soldiers, carrying their weapons, emerged from the underworld. Among them, the commander of the three armies, Zhang Xicheng, walked at the very front. The moment he stepped out of the underworld, he saw Lin Zhao arrive with an old man clad in armor, carrying twin swords.
That old man exuded such a piercing sword intent!
Zhang Xicheng hurried forward, about to kneel.
"No need."
Lin Zhao stepped forward, raising Zhang Xicheng up. He smiled and said, "Brother Zhang, it's been a long time!"
"Mm!"
Zhang Xicheng's face was filled with joy. "Brother Lin Zhao... it's been a long time! And who is this..."
"Oh~~~"
Huang Tingyu grinned and said, "I am Lin Zhao's sworn elder brother, a Sword Immortal."
"Greetings, Senior Sword Immortal!"
Zhang Xicheng couldn't bear to look at him; the Sword Immortal's sword heart was too blinding.
Lin Zhao took out the Flying Fish Messaging talisman seal and handed it to him, explaining its usage. He then gave him the letter that the Peach Blossom Demon had written previously. After that, he clasped hands with Zhang Xicheng in farewell.
Zhang Xicheng stood beneath a low stone peak, clasping his hands towards Lin Zhao, unwilling to lower them for a long time.
If there were an afterlife, he would trade ten years of his life for another chance to meet someone like Lin Zhao.
...
Upon returning to the mountain peak villa, Lin Zhao personally bought ingredients from the town and cooked a table of dishes in the villa's kitchen. He specially treated Old Huang to a drink, which lasted until late at night. The venerable Sword Immortal Huang, swaying unsteadily, had had too much to drink. He clapped Lin Zhao on the shoulder, repeatedly calling him brother, before wobbling off on his sword back to the military camp.
Lin Zhao, after finishing his drink, stood in the courtyard under the clear breeze and bright moon. With one matter resolved, he felt a sense of profound peace.
"Buzz~~~"
In his Spiritual Void, the three Sword Cultivation Lakes began to resonate and grow in unison. The Spiritual Void expanded by nearly half, and the three Sword Cultivation Lakes correspondingly doubled in size. At this moment, the young man had become a fourth-realm Sword Cultivator.
Fifteen years old, a seventh-realm martial artist, and a fourth-realm Sword Cultivator. He could almost look down upon his peers.
...
June 27th.
Morning.
The heavy sound of hooves broke the tranquility of the snow forest. A troop of cavalry, numbering over thirty thousand, approached from the north. They were all elite cavalry from Yun Province, but now they were devoid of their sharpness, exhausted and weary. Both men and horses had reached their limit. From June 2nd to the present, they had been breaking through for seven days and seven nights. The Military Governor Yang Zhi led tens of thousands of northern armored troops to cover their retreat, perishing completely. Along the way, Military Governor Wen Tingwan died in battle, leaving only three Military Governors: Lin Wuyang, Li Xuanji, and Ning Ze, leading these over thirty thousand remnants of cavalry to Guyao Pass.
"We're here!"
The cavalry in front revealed joyful smiles. "We've finally reached Guyao Pass. We're home..."
Everyone cheered with delight.
"That's not right!"
Lin Wuyang, who was at the forefront, frowned and looked towards Guyao Pass. He saw that the previously flat passage had now been built into a city wall at least twenty meters high, constructed entirely of massive stones. On the city wall, the battle flags of the Great Shang Dynasty fluttered.
"What's going on?"
Lin Wuyang led a troop of cavalry directly to the foot of the pass, only to discover that the suddenly rebuilt Guyao Pass had no city gate.
"You on the wall!"
Lin Wuyang raised his long sword and roared, "I am Lin Wuyang, Military Governor of Yun Province, escorting the remains of the Marquis of Wu here. Why have you sealed the pass?"
On the city wall, a general frowned and said, "My Lord, we are acting under the decree of the Marquis of Wen, to rebuild Guyao Pass here, guarding the northern gateway and resisting the southern advance of the demon and devil armies!"
"You..."
Lin Wuyang's heart was filled with rage. "What about us?!"
The general on the city wall gritted his teeth, "The construction period was too short, and we had no time to leave a city gate. We will now lower the hoist, please send back the remains of the Marquis of Wu. As for all of you, please proceed eastward and find another opportunity!"
"You scoundrels!"
The female general Ning Ze drew her sword and pointed it at the city wall, tears streaming down her face. "Wen Shuoyang, how could you be so cruel!"