The snow domain Heavenly Pool, noon.
In the cold wind, Lin Zhao led more than ten thousand cavalry back to Tianchi Ridge. Chu Huaixi personally welcomed them down from the northern mountain. As Chu Huaixi saw the cavalry, he couldn't help but sigh. More than ten thousand people, almost everyone was stained with blood. Even Chen Yu, dressed in white armor, was covered in blood. Both the people and the warhorses were exhausted, reaching their limit.
"Marshal Chu."
Lin Zhao dismounted first and saluted. Huang Tingyu, Chen Yu, Lu Zhi, Mu Da, and others also dismounted.
"Alright."
Chu Huaixi patted the young man's shoulder, looking at his exhausted face with some heartache. He said, "It's good to be home, it's good to be home. Let's go back to the camp. I've already ordered a lavish lunch to be prepared."
"Marshal Chu..."
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "Yu Zhi divided his forces into six routes to hunt, so we were constantly on the run. The remains of the fallen soldiers... we couldn't bring them back..."
"It's alright."
Chu Huaixi's eyes reddened. "There are loyal bones buried everywhere in the green mountains. They will understand."
"Thank you, Marshal Chu..."
Lin Zhao felt a bit dejected. He remounted his horse and followed behind Chu Huaixi and Huang Tingyu. He didn't speak again along the way. Although this battle had killed nearly 100,000 demon troops, their own losses were not small. Two thousand cavalry units went to battle, and only a little over 13,000 returned with him. Among them, the Vermilion Bird Camp on both wings suffered the most severe losses. How would he explain this to Shao Shiyu?
...
Lunch was served in the camp of the Heavenly Pool Army. Tables were set up one after another on the spacious training ground. The returning cavalrymen felt a sense of having survived a catastrophe, their faces full of smiles.
A table was also set up in the command tent. Chu Huaixi personally hosted Shao Shiyu, Huang Tingyu, Lin Zhao, Chen Yu, and the two female legion commanders of the Vermilion Bird Camp. Everyone was exhausted. Lin Zhao, who usually didn't drink much, took a large gulp. His eyes were slightly red, and he looked at Chu Huaixi and said, "We didn't manage to rendezvous with the Yunzhou cavalry. When we returned... Marquis Yue Hao had already died in battle."
"I know."
Chu Huaixi's expression was somber. "At dawn, when I sensed a wisp of martial luck disappearing in the east, I knew that a Heavenly Origin Realm martial artist had died in battle defending the country. Besides Marquis Yue Hao, who else could it be?"
"I'm sorry..."
Lin Zhao looked at Shao Shiyu and said, "Grand Commander Shao Shiyu, I took 17,000 Vermilion Bird cavalry to the north. When I returned, more than 30% had been lost..."
Shao Shiyu pursed her red lips and said, "How about the enemy killed?"
Lin Zhao frowned and said nothing.
A female legion commander cupped her fists and said, "Reporting to Grand Commander, I haven't calculated the exact number of enemies killed, but the demon race mobilized a total of four army camps to pursue and block us. Lord Lin Zhao led our 20,000 cavalry seven times through the Chizong forest, constantly avoiding the demon army's sharp edge, and seizing opportunities to strike at their vital points. The number of enemies killed was at least... over 100,000!"
"If that's the case, why apologize?"
Shao Shiyu looked at Lin Zhao and said, "Lin Zhao... you have already achieved what even renowned generals of this era might not be able to accomplish. Why do you still blame yourself so much?"
Lin Zhao frowned. "I originally thought... there was a plan to break through two army camps and rendezvous with the Yunzhou cavalry. Once the Yunzhou cavalry opened the passage to the west, with our cover, perhaps Marquis Yue Hao would not have died in battle. Even, we could have saved tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of Yunzhou cavalry. What a pity..."
"Enough!"
Huang Tingyu grinned. "Do you really think you are the reincarnation of the God of War? With a mere 20,000 cavalry, you wanted to defeat the demon race's eight army camps and over a million elite soldiers? Moreover, the demon race still has so many great demons of the upper five realms presiding over them. If you had really broken through, perhaps none of us would have returned. What was Marquis Yue Hao's cultivation? An eleventh-stage Heavenly Origin martial artist. Even he died in battle. It's imaginable how terrifying the existence he faced was."
"Old Huang is right."
Chu Huaixi nodded. "You have already made great contributions to the human race. You don't need to blame yourself anymore. You know that human strength has its limits."
"I understand. Thank you, Marshal Chu."
The young man nodded and stopped speaking, only continuing to pick up dishes and eat. He was indeed very hungry.
...
"East, any new developments?" Chen Yu asked.
"Yes."
Chu Huaixi said, "An hour ago, we received a flying fish dispatch from the front-line spies. After Marquis Yue Hao died in battle, his personal guard escorted his remains and caught up with the Yunzhou cavalry. Lin Wuyang, Li Xuanji, Ning Ze, and Wen Tingwan led the 150,000 surviving Yunzhou cavalry eastward, rendezvoused with tens of thousands of armored soldiers led by Yang Zhi, and then broke through to the south. However, the demon and魔族 armies have been constantly flanking to the south. I don't know how many of them can return alive to Gu Yao Pass."
"We have done our best."
Shao Shiyu's beautiful eyes revealed a hint of desolation. "The vast 530,000 Yunzhou cavalry, 400,000 northern armored soldiers, all defeated in the northern frontier. They killed enemies for a thousand li, and the corpses piled up to a million. How magnificent..."
Huang Tingyu clasped his arms. "Yue Hao was indeed a renowned general of his generation, a pillar of the army. What a pity. The Marquis Wen's appeasement strategy finally angered him..."
"The situation on the distant battlefield is no longer within our control."
Chu Huaixi frowned. "I hope that more of this Yunzhou cavalry and northern armored soldiers can return alive to Gu Yao Pass..."
"That's right."
Shao Shiyu nodded.
Lin Zhao remained silent. To be honest, he just wanted to go back to the Mountain Peak Villa to practice martial arts and spend time with Xiao Shitang and Xiao Jiuer.
...
At dusk, with the assistance of Lu Zhi, Luo Yang, and Mu Da, Lin Zhao finished handling all the military affairs of the Death Squad. He then rode his horse back to the Mountain Peak Villa. He changed out of his blood-stained battle robe and put on a green shirt. He took Xiao Shitang with him to pick up Xiao Jiuer from the study. When the little girl saw Lin Zhao return, she was overjoyed. She gave Lin Zhao a malt candy and told him to put it in his mouth quickly.
Lin Zhao bit the malt candy, a smile on his face, and watched the little girl "make trouble."
Xiao Jiuer jumped up and stood on the roadside fence. She held Lin Zhao's shoulder with one hand and wiped his eyes with the other. She said with a smile, "Brother Lin Zhao, you must not have slept for many days. You've got dark circles under your eyes."
"I know."
Lin Zhao smiled. "Then let's go home quickly to eat and sleep?"
"Mmm!"
The little girl nodded repeatedly. "Brother Lin Zhao sleeps, and I will copy my homework in Brother Lin Zhao's room."
"Okay, whatever you say."
...
Thus, Lin Zhao resumed his normal life at the Mountain Peak Villa. He went to the military camp during the day to fulfill his duties, picked up Xiao Jiuer from class in the evening, and then ate, practiced martial arts, and nurtured his sword intent. All his cultivation proceeded in an orderly manner.
One evening.
Lin Zhao tucked the helmet of the Death Squad commander under his arm and walked out of the camp, leading his horse. He saw Huang Tingyu carrying a pot of wine and a roasted chicken, walking from the direction of the town. He immediately rode forward to intercept him.
"Wait!"
Huang Tingyu looked as if he were facing a formidable enemy and hurriedly stuffed the fine wine and roasted chicken into his arms. "What do you want, you brat?!"
"Don't panic, don't panic, I'm not robbing you of your food!"
Lin Zhao laughed heartily, stepped forward, and threw his arm around Huang Tingyu's shoulder. "Old Huang... Brother Huang! I have something I want to ask you about. I hope you won't hesitate to give me your advice."
"Alright, tell me!"
Huang Tingyu patted his chest and laughed. "There's nothing in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool that I, Old Man, don't know."
"Okay."
Lin Zhao nodded. "It's about the flying fish dispatch. Brother Huang, I've only heard of flying fish dispatch, but I don't understand how it works. Can you tell me? Just tell me what is needed to build a bridge for flying fish dispatch between two places, what conditions are required, and how much it costs?"
"You brat..."
Huang Tingyu narrowed his eyes and smiled. "What, you went on a trip to the south and found a confidante outside? You can't bear the pain of longing, so you want to send letters to each other and communicate secretly?"
"Pah!"
Lin Zhao jumped three feet high, his face flushed red. "Am I that kind of person?"
"Oh, oh, oh, I hit the nail on the head!"
Huang Tingyu grinned and laughed. "Could it be that little girl Lin Wanhua from Fusu Great Wall? I heard that her sword skills and beauty are both unrivaled in the world, cold as ice and proud as a winter plum. Any man who can marry Lin Wanhua and become a Dao companion will have lived a life without regret. Whether seeking the Dao or not, whether ascending to heaven or not, is it still important? Not important!"
Lin Zhao's face darkened with black lines. "Just tell me directly, how do I build a flying fish dispatch?"
"It's simple!"
Huang Tingyu said, "To have a flying fish dispatch, you first need a well-trained Golden Fin Flying Fish. Secondly, you need a Earth Master who is skilled in building formations. The Earth Master will plant a rune mark on the Golden Fin Flying Fish. After that, the Earth Master will craft two rune marks. These rune marks will allow the Golden Fin Flying Fish to send messages between the two places, no matter how far apart they are. Furthermore... feeding a Golden Fin Flying Fish is not cheap. Golden Fin Flying Fish not only need to be fed fish food, but they also need to be nourished with the spiritual energy of Flying Fish Coins, about one Flying Fish Coin per day!"
Old Huang squinted at him. "However, a girl of Lin Wanhua's caliber is worth one Flying Fish Coin a day. If you really have no money, your old brother Huang will pay for it. What's the big deal? It's just that when your future wife comes into the house, she can accompany old brother Huang for a few drinks. Don't worry, your old brother Huang is a gentleman, and he absolutely won't touch her legs, not even her hands!"
Lin Zhao gritted his teeth and grabbed Old Huang's head. "Huang Tingyu, you damn old man, do you have any shame?!"
"Aiya, you're getting anxious now!"
Huang Tingyu cackled and laughed. "I was right, wasn't I? It really is that little girl Lin Wanhua. I say you've got guts! Other martial artists kill people with a punch, but you, you managed to get a beautiful wife with one punch. Although old brother Huang is a Sword Immortal, I still admire you wholeheartedly!"
...
Fusu Great Wall, on the city wall.
The cold wind whistled. A beautiful woman sat on the mottled city bricks, dressed in white, holding a wine pot. The Fusu Great Wall was bitterly cold, and only this sip of wine could bring a trace of warmth.
Lin Wanhua took a sip of wine, revealing her long, fair neck, another stunning sight on the Fusu Great Wall.
"Achoo..."
After putting down the wine pot, she suddenly sneezed and couldn't help but frown. "Is someone thinking of me?"
She pondered, and her gaze turned north again. However, this time, she looked not directly north, but slightly to the west. There, there was a former sacred land of the human race, called the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool.