"Bang!"
Lin Zhao, horse and all, collided with Yun Lang's body, plunging him into a state of dizziness once more. Yun Lang, his mind hazy, recalled some buried memories. "Oh, right, this move is called Sword Qi Impact. When I was young, my master taught me this little trick, mere child's play."
As he pondered, the female martial artist's fist descended from above!
Three consecutive punches sent Yun Lang sprawling onto the ground in a starfish position. His protective sword qi had long since dissipated. Who could withstand such relentless beating? Let alone a Star River Realm cultivator, even an eleventh or twelfth realm demon clan Sword Immortal couldn't endure such a brutal, close-quarters pummeling from a tenth realm human martial artist. This was a killing blow!
After three punches, Yun Lang's health bar was critically low.
But he remained unperturbed, for he had a trump card. The moment he recovered from the Sword Qi Impact's disorientation, he ignited a golden talisman. It was a Void Stepping Talisman, a high-grade Daoist talisman. Once ignited, it would transport him into the void, allowing him to escape the imminent peril. Such a talisman was priceless, but he had no choice but to use it this time!
Who would have thought that the instant Yun Lang ignited the Void Stepping Talisman and his body vanished into the wind, the female martial artist pointed a single finger and summoned a flying sword!
"Pfft!"
With a soft sound, the flying sword sliced through the cold wind. Yun Lang's body reappeared, a gaping hole in his throat, a spray of blood scattering in the wind. His last vestiges of health were depleted!
"..."
Lin Zhao was astonished.
The female martial artist was not just a tenth realm Sea Crushing realm martial artist, but also a sixth realm Sword Cultivator. Her natal flying sword was named Ling Xu, and its divine ability was to perceive the void. Such were the coincidences of life.
...
Yun Lang clutched his throat and died with a gurgling sound. His life extinguished, the female martial artist stepped forward and delivered a gentle punch to his abdomen. Yun Lang promptly spat out a Star River Realm demon core. A tenth realm Sword Cultivator's demon core was no small matter in value.
"Thank you!"
The female martial artist cupped her fist in a salute to Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao returned the salute. Looking at him, the woman seemed to falter... It was as if... she had seen someone like him in her childhood memories, but it was too long ago, she couldn't recall clearly. Perhaps it was a mere illusion.
"Charge!"
The woman remounted her horse, drew a longsword from its side, and commanded in a low voice, "Drive these demons out of the Snow Domain Tianchi!"
"Yes, Marshal Chu!"
A group of cavalrymen nodded in unison. After their "Marshal Chu" slew a tenth realm demon clan Sword Cultivator, their morale surged. The group charged fearlessly, and in less than five minutes, they had relieved the siege of Lin Zhao's temporary camp. Most of the demons fled in disarray, vanishing down the northern mountain.
The battle had arrived swiftly and departed just as quickly, likely due to Yun Lang's rapid demise.
"Rest here."
After ordering the cavalrymen to rest, the female martial artist led her entourage into Lin Zhao's encampment. Lin Zhao and Xiang Ji cautiously built a fire in the simple camp. The group sat around the bonfire, each taking a stone to sit on. The female martial artist, "Marshal Chu," sat opposite Lin Zhao, while her capable subordinates, with considerable cultivation, sat on either side, flanking her.
"Xiang Ji."
Xiang Ji smiled and cupped his fist, saying, "You must have heard of me."
"Mm."
The female martial artist glanced at him. "The Purple Thunder Legion of fifty thousand, lost in less than a few months. I don't know how you commanded, but you are truly an incompetent commander."
"..."
Xiang Ji fell silent. She knew how to strike at his weakness, and her words were truly unpleasant.
"And you?"
The female martial artist turned to Lin Zhao. "Who are you?"
"A Sword Cultivator from Tianji City."
"A Sword Cultivator from Tianji City..."
She looked into Lin Zhao's eyes and said, "Why have you come all the way to the Snow Domain Tianchi? To court death?"
"Perhaps not to court death, but to slay demons?"
Lin Zhao took the initiative, asking, "And who are you, Marshal Chu? If I recall correctly, there is only one Marshal Chu in the Snow Domain Tianchi, Chu Huai Xi. What are your intentions in using Chu Huai Xi's name?"
"..."
The woman looked at Lin Zhao. Upon hearing his words, she didn't get angry but seemed rather pleased. She smiled, "Are you well acquainted with Chu Huai Xi? Defending him so vehemently?"
"Not well acquainted."
Lin Zhao smiled. "I simply believe that since Chu Huai Xi died fighting for the realm, everyone in the realm should honor him."
"Mm."
The woman smiled faintly. "My name is Chu Yu, Chu Huai Xi's adopted daughter."
"!!!"
Lin Zhao was thunderstruck. "Marshal Chu has an adopted daughter?"
"Mm."
Chu Yu furrowed her brow slightly. "I was an orphan from Tianchi Town. Because I had talent in martial arts, my adoptive father took me in and I followed him to cultivate the Marshal's Fist. When I was seven, the great battle of Snow Domain Tianchi erupted, and my adoptive father sacrificed himself. I was sent to Yunzhou to seek refuge by the people arranged by Vice Marshal Huang Ting Yu. Later... ten years ago, I returned to my homeland, determined to raise an army to slay demons here. This is the cavalry you see before you. We have no fixed abode, wandering in the snow. We survive by plundering demon supplies and trading spiritual mushrooms and rare treasures from the snow domain for warhorses, food, weapons, and armor. Almost everyone in our group has lost loved ones to the demons, and we have long vowed to stand in irreconcilable opposition to them."
"So that's how it is..."
Lin Zhao looked at her and couldn't help but chuckle. Chu Yu, the 'Chu' from Chu Huai Xi, and the 'Yu' from Chen Yu. Chu Huai Xi, burdened with the great cause of his nation, spoke grandly, but did he truly never have feelings for Princess Yu? Likely not, he simply never voiced them.
"We will be leaving soon."
Chu Yu frowned. "This remnant army has fewer than 500 people, and we suffer losses in every battle. The demon race is powerful and their nature is brutal; we have experienced this firsthand. Even Xiang Ji's fifty thousand cavalry couldn't withstand the demon army's main force, let alone us. So... please don't blame us. We simply don't want to die in vain under the demons' swords."
"I won't blame you."
Lin Zhao said, "The fact that you resist the demons and slay them everywhere is already worthy of great respect."
"And you?"
Chu Yu looked at him. "What is your name?"
"Bai Yi."
"Mm..."
Chu Yu pursed her red lips, thinking that the name Bai Yi was rather peculiar. She glanced at Lin Zhao. "What are your plans next?"
"I am not leaving."
Lin Zhao pointed to the ground. "My roots are here, so I will not leave. As long as I am alive, I will definitely raise a force in the Snow Domain Tianchi to resist the demons' southward advance."
"Why bother?"
Chu Yu furrowed her brow. "Do you consider yourself Lin Bai Yi of the Snow Domain Tianchi? You are not him. I met Lin Zhao when I was very young... a person like him... there will never be another."
"It doesn't matter."
Lin Zhao smiled. "If the Snow Domain Tianchi is completely empty, it will seem as though our human race has abandoned this place, which is not good. It is still meaningful for me to stay here."
"Mm."
Chu Yu stood up and smiled. "If you are willing to join our remnant army, you are always welcome. We would be delighted."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao stood up, cupped his fist, and smiled. "If I can truly raise a force in the Snow Domain Tianchi capable of confronting a demon army camp, would you be willing to lead your people to join us?"
"That's a tricky one..."
Chu Yu smiled. "Most of the people here are from the Great Chen Dynasty... are you sure you can handle them?"
"I can."
"Let's talk about it when you've actually raised a force!"
Chu Yu walked out of the camp, burying the bodies of the fallen soldiers. After distributing the meat of the fallen warhorses, she departed from the Snow Domain Tianchi. She even left a horse leg for Lin Zhao and Xiang Ji to roast and eat.
Lin Zhao walked out of the camp and watched Chu Yu and her group descend the mountain, his heart filled with mixed emotions. The Great Chen Dynasty still had people resisting the demons in the northern territories. If one were to speak of iron resolve, the most resolute dynasty in the world would be the Great Chen Dynasty. Even the Xia clan descendants of Fusu Great Wall were not so tragic.
He felt somewhat dejected. After a demon assault, he gained nothing. Instead, his demon-suppressing crossbow and two bronze beasts were severely damaged. He needed to return to the city for repairs. But there was no rush; he would wait until this SSS-rank mission was completed. There was still plenty of time; he would log off and rest.
...
Logged off, went downstairs.
Downstairs, he saw Mo Chen Xue in a white dress.
"Brother Lin Zhao."
Mo Chen Xue called out to him. As for the address, it followed Xiao Juzi's lead. In the entire studio, besides Xiao Juzi, Mo Chen Xue was the youngest, only nineteen years old. So, her calling Lin Zhao "Brother Lin Zhao" seemed appropriate. More importantly, in Mo Chen Xue's heart, calling him "Alliance Leader" every day felt too distant. Calling him Lin Zhao like Shen Xing Chen and Chen Xue felt a bit abrupt, as she was just a newcomer and needed to maintain a humble posture. Thus, she could only learn from Xiao Juzi and Roman and call him "Brother Lin Zhao." So, after calling him "Brother Lin Zhao," her pretty face flushed, and she cautiously observed Lin Zhao's reaction. If he didn't like it, she would change her address later.
"Mm?"
Lin Zhao smiled. "What's wrong, Xiao Xue?"
Mo Chen Xue felt that Lin Zhao did not reject the address and couldn't conceal her happy smile. She then made small talk. "We'll be having breakfast soon. Come over early..."
"Got it."
Lin Zhao nodded and smiled, returning to his room to wash up first.
When Lin Zhao came out again, everyone was already there. Shen Xing Chen, Chen Xue, and Roman had all dressed up before coming out. After all, they had to show some respect to the three gentlemen in the studio; they couldn't appear disheveled and affect their image.
"Tasks in the morning?"
Chen Xue looked at him. "You logged in so early."
"Mm, the Snow Domain Tianchi was attacked. I logged in and resolved it."
"Was it resolved successfully?" Shen Xing Chen asked.
"Of course."
Lin Zhao grinned. "Is there anything your Alliance Leader cannot solve?"
"Alright."
Shen Xing Chen said, "The mirror in my room is a bit loose. It wobbles whenever I touch it. Can you find some nails and a hammer to fix it later?"
"Oh..."
Lin Zhao nodded. "A piece of cake!"
...
Shen Xing Chen lowered her head and ate her porridge. This man was somewhat oblivious to romance. Chen Xue and Roman intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Shen Xing Chen. This woman... was she doing it on purpose?